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The Future Ready Pledge

Empower the Next Generation through Business Engagement

Across Stoke-on-Trent, many young people with a disadvantaged backgrounds aged 14-24 struggle to access meaningful work experience, employment pathways, or mentoring opportunities. With 13.6% of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), the challenge is real — and growing.

Join Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, YMCA, and Made in Stoke to make a real difference. We're uniting businesses to create a seismic shift in how we support young people with a disadvantaged background, inspiring their engagement with the world of work and their pride in our city.

Sign the pledge today

What’s the Future Ready Pledge?

Your business can play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of talent in Stoke-on-Trent. The Future Ready Pledge is a commitment by employers across the county to provide practical, real-world experiences that equip young people with a disadvantaged background with essential skills, boost their confidence, and pave the way for brighter futures.

Every Contribution Counts: Commit whatever time you can, whether you can offer a brief career chat, a week of work experience, a taster day, an apprenticeship, a full-time position, or even a CV workshop, your support, big or small, will have a lasting impact.

Suppose you are a young person with a disadvantaged background looking for help climbing the ladder. We can help with the Future Ready Partnership. With the support of the job coaches at the YMCA, we will engage and ensure that you are given time and support to match with one of the business opportunities.

Make a Real Impact: Ways Your Business Can Get Involved

We want to encourage as many businesses as possible to be part of the Future Ready Pledge and support vulnerable young people within Stoke-on-Trent.

We know that not everyone will want to offer the same level of commitment, so we have created four categories to reflect this.

Sign the pledge today

Bronze

• Provide career talks.

• Workshops to help with CV writing and mock interviews.

Silver

• Provide career talks.

• Workshops to help with CV writing and mock interviews.

• Attend career fairs/events.

• Work experience placements for one week.

Gold

• Provide career talks.

• Workshops to help with CV writing and mock interviews.

• Attend career fairs/events.

• Work experience placements.

• T level placements.

• Apprenticeships.

Platinum

• Provide career talks.

• Workshops to help with CV writing and mock interviews.

• Attend career fairs/events.

• Work experience placements.

• T level placements.

• Apprenticeships.

• Supported Internships.

• Part time or full-time job

More than CSR: Investing in Our Future

The Future Ready Pledge will create lasting change that will benefit all:-

Tackle Local Unemployment: Directly reduce youth unemployment and provide pathways to meaningful careers for disadvantaged young people.

Build a Future-Ready Talent Pipeline: Invest in developing young people's skills and experience, creating a pool of talented future employees for your business and the wider region.

Strengthen Our Community: Give back in a tangible way that makes a real difference in young people's lives and strengthens Stoke-on-Trent's social and economic fabric.

Tap into Fresh Perspectives: Young people bring new ideas, energy, and perspectives that can enrich your workplace.

Enhance Your Reputation: Demonstrate your commitment to social responsibility and become an employer of choice.

Young people who have four or more meaningful work focused encounters are 86% less likely to become NEET, and can earn up to 18% more during their careers. As a business community, this pledge has the reach to drive a real shift outcomes across the city.

The Time is Now: Young people in Stoke-on-Trent are eager to work and demonstrate their potential. By signing the pledge, you're not just helping individuals; you're shaping a brighter future for our entire city and building a stronger local economy for all. Together, we can ensure every young person has a clear path to employment and a future they can be proud of.