Young people Build Connections with employers at careers day

Dozens of young people were given an insight into the world of work and the chance to build connections at a special event.

Young Leicestershire hosted the Coca-Cola Europacific Partners-funded Building Connections event at Leicester City Football Club’s King Power Stadium. The event saw about 100 young people, a number with special educational needs and/or disabilities, have the chance to talk to employers about possible career opportunities.

Firms such as Shoe Zone and Dunelm were present to chat about the various positions and placements available, alongside groups like Pathways, Leicester City Council and Voluntary Action LeicesterShire talking about some of the support they offer.

Deb Such, of Young Leicestershire, which supports voluntary sector youth services across the county, said: “Young people have had the opportunity to speak to employers to find out what they have got going on in their organisations. People think Shoe Zone has shoe shops, but it is much more than that, with logistics, offices and lots of other opportunities for employment. Young people have to learn about that to be able to think ‘actually, that’s an opportunity I might like to take up’.

“There are a lot of young people out there, especially with special educational needs, or not in education, employment or training, who are not going to have the opportunities other people have to find that straightforward route into employment. Events like this are important, because it levels the playing field a bit and gives these young people the same opportunities their mainstream counterparts have.

“It’s not about walking out with a job, but giving them the confidence to have those conservations with employers and other voluntary sector organisations.

“Some of the young people have said the event has given them confidence around their opportunities for employment, some had said they now know where they can go for support to look at employability, so its amazing. Without the Building Connections project and Coca-Cola and UK Youth, this wouldn’t be happening, so it’s been fantastic.”

Building Connections, a partnership between CCEP and national youth work charity UK Youth, is an investment in youth work to create stronger pathways to employment for young people.

UK Youth staff were present at the event, while Coca-Cola had a stall to welcome visitors, featuring games and giveaways and LCFC in the community had games consoles for the young people to play.

Without the Building Connections project and Coca-Cola and UK Youth, this wouldn’t be happening, so it’s been fantastic.”

Deb Such, Young Leicestershire

New business account executive Michael Potter was part of the Coca-Cola team on the day.

He said: “It’s been good to see how the young people have come out of the shell as the day has gone on.

“The feedback has been good. The young people have been excited to come and get the goodie bags and, from speaking to the different business, it’s knowing they’re not alone in their journey to get into a new career.”

Seventeen-year-old Harley was among the young people in attendance. He said: “It’s been good seeing the variety of opportunities, that there’s more in life you can do than just construction, or something similar.”

UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. With an open network of more than 8,000 youth organisations and nation partners; UK Youth reaches more than four million young people across the UK and is focused on unlocking youth work as the catalyst of change that is needed now more than ever. To find out more, visit ukyouth.org 

UK Youth is involved in a range of programmes designed to help young people thrive, such as outdoor learning, physical literacy, social action and employability, including Hatch, a youth employability programme run in partnership with KFC. For more on UK Youth’s programmes, see ukyouth.org/what-we-do/programmes