Business leaders convene to widen access to opportunity for young people

Business leaders convene to widen access to opportunity for young people 

July 2, 2026

Business leaders convene to widen access to opportunity for young people 

Led by Andrew Masraf, Global Senior Partner and Chair of the Board at Pinsent Masons, business leaders have today come together in the London Borough of Newham to support young people to transition successfully from education into work. The visit is part of a series of The King’s Seeing is Believing visits[2] focusing on youth unemployment and the role of businesses in improving the life outcomes of young people. 

With Youth Employment Week approaching, Business in the Community (BITC) is convening businesses to work together to coordinate action and make a long-term commitment to deliver systemic change in their communities. The visit comes at a critical time, with increasing numbers of young people not in employment and education, coupled with a decline in entry-level vacancies. Alan Milburn’s recently published ‘Young people and work: interim report’[3] highlights the growing youth employment crisis across the UK, with more than one million young people aged 16-24 not learning or earning.[4] However, research shows that four or more meaningful encounters with employers can significantly reduce the likelihood of falling out of education, employment, or training.[5] The Government’s Youth Guarantee presents an opportunity for business and government to improve work encounters and pathways to tackle the NEET (not in employment, education, or training) challenge.[6] 

During the visit, business leaders from organisations such as Pinsent Masons, Aviva, British International Investment, Channel 4, Greggs, Halifax, and PageGroup will gain first-hand insight into the barriers young people face in accessing education, employment, and training. They will also come away understanding the role businesses can play in addressing these barriers, including hearing about the vital work of organisations such as: 

  • Badu: a community-led organisation focusing on unlocking the potential of young people who are often underserved by traditional systems, through mentoring, workforce development, sports, and community-led programmes.[7] 
  • Bobby Moore Academy: an all-through school located in the heart of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with around four in 10 pupils eligible for free school meals and around a third speaking English as an additional language.[8] 
  • Lloyds Banking Group: one of the UK’s largest financial services companies, already supporting young people through programmes such as SkillsFest, which has been scaled to reach thousands of young people across the UK, helping build employability and digital skills while raising awareness of apprenticeship, graduate, and early careers opportunities.[9] 

Andrew Masraf, Global Senior Partner and Chair of the Board at Pinsent Masons, said: 

We know that meaningful employer engagement has proven, measurable impact on young people’s life outcomes, but there is more to do to reach those who need it most. We urgently need to scale what we know works. This includes creating more entry-level roles and working with government to deliver the Youth Guarantee. Businesses are ready to step up. This visit is proof of that, while providing the clarity and practical routes to do so. By working together, we can open up opportunity and ensure no one is left behind.

Ola Kolade, Employment & Skills Director at Business in the Community, said: 

Every young person deserves a clear pathway into good work, but too many are being left behind. If every business made a clear, long-term commitment to supporting young people, we simply wouldn’t be facing the scale of the youth employment crisis that we see today. In addition to working with schools, businesses can work closely with youth and community organisations. BITC is uniquely placed to convene businesses and connect them with government and community partners to turn ambition into clear, practical action, enabling businesses to make a measurable difference, quickly and sustainably.

The King’s Seeing is Believing programme was established by the then Prince of Wales in 1990. The programme, supported by Salesforce and Linklaters LLP, connects business leaders with communities by taking business leaders out into communities and inspiring them to come up with impactful solutions to the challenges they face. To date, over 25,000 business leaders have taken part in the King’s Seeing is Believing programme which has led to many initiatives being set up including Career Ready, Ban the Box, and mentoring circles in collaboration with the Department for Work and Pensions.    

ENDS

Notes to editor

For further information, please contact Polly Dacam, Senior Public Affairs and Media Officer, on 020 7566 6638.

About Business in the Community

Business in the Community (BITC) champions responsible business as essential for long term economic growth and resilience.   
 
It is the UK’s leading responsible business network, working with companies of all sizes to tackle society’s most pressing challenges from climate change and place-based community regeneration to inequality, workplace wellbeing, and inclusive growth.  
  
Founded by His Majesty King Charles III in 1982, BITC has over four decades of experience in engaging business and delivering measurable impact in both business and in communities through evidence-based interventions. 

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