Welcome to the October edition of the Foundation newsletter
October has been another busy month for the City & Guilds Foundation, with new partnerships, inspiring stories from the organisations we support and fresh insights into how we can create more opportunities for people and businesses to thrive.
This month, we're sharing news of our latest funding partnership with Generation UK, helping further education colleges to create more accessible routes into sustainable employment. As we come to the end of Black History Month, we wanted to highlight the inspiring work of Voyage, where young people are exploring their heritage, developing confidence and discovering new career possibilities.
Alongside this, we're continuing to invite people to contribute to our 2027 Neurodiversity Index, while new research from Be the Business highlights the importance of unlocking potential and supporting progression.
We also wanted to acknowledge the recent announcement that Ben Blackledge will no longer be joining the City & Guilds Foundation as Chief Executive. While this represents a change to previously announced plans, our commitment to working with partners to break down barriers to skills and opportunity remains unchanged.
Across all of this work, a common theme is the importance of creating pathways that enable people to realise their potential. Whether through investment, collaboration or research, we're proud to support the people and organisations helping make this possible.
New partnership with Generation UK to break down barriers to employment
The City & Guilds Foundation is delighted to announce £74,000 in funding for Generation UK, supporting an innovative project to help more people facing barriers to employment develop the skills, confidence and opportunities needed to build sustainable careers.
The funding will support Generation UK's Building FE College Capability Project, establishing two new further education college partnerships outside London.
Building on a successful London pilot, the project will help colleges deliver high-quality, employer-aligned training in sectors including healthcare and retrofit advice. Through a train-the-trainer approach, college staff will receive practical resources, specialist training and ongoing support to deliver programmes that connect learning directly with employment opportunities.
Read the full story about our partnership with Generation UK.
More than history: How Voyage is opening doors for young people
his Black History Month, we're celebrating the inspiring work of Voyage, a Hackney-based organisation helping young people connect with their heritage, build confidence and discover new opportunities for their futures.
Voyage is creating opportunities for young people to explore the stories of their communities, engage with cultural institutions and develop skills that can open doors into education and employment.
From producing a book capturing the experiences of Caribbean elders in Hackney to working alongside museums, archivists and heritage professionals, young people are discovering career pathways they may never previously have considered.
These experiences are already making a difference, with participants going on to secure roles and internships at institutions including the Museum of the Home and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Through our funding, Voyage is able to respond to young people's interests and develop new opportunities that build on their ideas and ambitions.
Discover how Voyage is helping young people explore their heritage and unlock new opportunities.
There's still time to help shape the 2027 Neurodiversity Index
Our 2027 Neurodiversity Index survey is still open, and we're encouraging employers, HR and DEI professionals, employees and advocates to share their experiences and help shape this important research.
Now entering its fifth year, the Neurodiversity Index explores how organisations are progressing on neuroinclusion, looking beyond commitments and intentions to understand what's making a meaningful difference in workplaces.
Led by our Fellow and research partner, Professor Amanda Kirby, the research brings together employer perspectives and employee experiences to build a clearer picture of progress, identify where barriers remain and highlight opportunities for improvement.
The survey remains open until November, with findings due to be published next spring to coincide with Neurodiversity Week.
Whether you're helping shape workplace policies or have personal experience of neurodiversity at work, your voice matters. By taking part, you'll help build the evidence needed to create more inclusive environments where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Pathways to Potential: New report highlights the power of inclusive recruitment
A newly published evaluation report from Be the Business highlights the positive impact of Pathways to Potential, a City & Guilds Foundation-supported pilot helping small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) build the confidence and skills to recruit young people from a wider range of backgrounds.
The programme brought together 29 SMEs, providing practical workshops, resources and one-to-one mentoring to help employers overcome recruitment challenges and create more inclusive pathways into work.
The findings are encouraging, with 91% of respondents reporting increased confidence in recruiting young people and 85% saying the programme had changed their organisation's approach to recruitment. Employers also reported improvements in onboarding, greater awareness of apprenticeships and a willingness to recognise potential and attitude alongside formal qualifications and experience.
While longer-term employment outcomes are still to be measured, the findings demonstrate how supporting employers can be an important step towards opening up opportunities for young people who face barriers to work.
Read the full Pathways to Potential evaluation report and explore the findings.
