Activism

Four ways businesses are shaping the futures of young people in London

East London Business Alliance builds the connection between businesses and local communities. Here, they spotlight four initiatives doing great things for young people.

Mentoring Works programme matches Year 10 and Sixth Form students to business mentors. Students are encouraged to develop knowledge and skills needed for their future education, training or careers. To date, nearly 7,000 young people have benefited from having a mentor.

CV Surgery provides a volunteer to remotely check university students’ CV and/or LinkedIn profiles. Students get help making their CV more professional and appealing. This can be accompanied by mock interviews conducted by business volunteers, mentoring and visits to companies.

Eagles is a paid six- to nine-month graduate programme offering a unique opportunity to join top London firms. Many of our graduates faced challenges via traditional routes into these companies. Eagles receive intensive in-house training before starting their placements and have a mentor throughout. To date 275 people have benefited from this programme. As a result of this support, 96 per cent of Eagle graduates secure a professional job.

Parity project aims at improving the employability of young black men, who face particular disadvantage in the jobs market. Business volunteers invite Parity participants into their workplaces for insight visits, networking with professionals, mentoring, work placements, shadowing schemes, CV checks and mock interviews.

Thank you to our sponsor T. Rowe Price for supporting us in the development of this content and ongoing partnerships.

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

View all
Back to Black actor Eddie Marsan: 'There aren't any no-go areas in Tower Hamlets'
London

Back to Black actor Eddie Marsan: 'There aren't any no-go areas in Tower Hamlets'

Grand National: Animal rights activists claim 'tweaks' to 'cruel' horse race don't go far enough
Animal rights

Grand National: Animal rights activists claim 'tweaks' to 'cruel' horse race don't go far enough

The remarkable ways a Yorkshire children's charity is fighting hidden poverty and rural destitution
poverty/ selfa
Poverty

The remarkable ways a Yorkshire children's charity is fighting hidden poverty and rural destitution

This man let 12 strangers give £100,000 of his money away. Governments should follow suit
Philanthropy

This man let 12 strangers give £100,000 of his money away. Governments should follow suit

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know