Business leaders unite to address high youth NEET rates in Coventry

Business in the Community (BITC) has today convened a group of business leaders in Coventry to see first-hand the challenges facing those who live in the region and to co-create long-term, impactful solutions to make lasting change at pace and scale. 

The visit to Coventry, part of BITC’s flagship The King’s Seeing is Believing programme, supported by Salesforce and Linklaters LLP, comes as data shows that the rate of young people aged 16-17 in Coventry who are known to be not in education, employment, or training (NEET) sits at 3.6%, higher than the West Midlands average of 3.3% and the England average of 3.4%.^[2] In addition, the proportion of people in Coventry with no qualifications was at 8.8% in 2024, higher than the West Midlands average of 8.3% and the Great British average of 6.8%.^[3]

The visit enabled business leaders to understand the challenges facing young people living in the city, including low educational attainment and high NEET rates. The visit allowed business leaders to see these challenges not only at a local level, but also to understand the importance of early business intervention on a national level and the positive outcomes that can be observed when businesses actively engage long-term.  

Led by Zahra Bahrololoumi CBE, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive of Salesforce UK and Ireland, the visit was attended by business leaders from organisations including Salesforce UK and Ireland, Coventry Building Society, Hogan Lovells, National Gas, Sodexo Group, Jaguar Land Rover, Pinsent Masons, and Rigby Group. 

During the visit, business leaders visited community organisations in Coventry which BITC works closely with, helping to engage business support, including:  

Zahra Bahrololoumi, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Salesforce UK and Ireland, said:   

The King’s Seeing is Believing programme showcases the positive impact public, private, and voluntary sector organisations can make when they collaborate for lasting change. I’m so proud to be supporting this programme again and leading another visit in Coventry, to see the brilliant work already being done on the ground to support young people in the community. At Salesforce, we believe businesses can be one of the greatest platforms for change, and I’m looking forward to seeing the outcomes of the visit and positive change in Coventry.

Steve Hughes, Group CEO of Coventry Building Society and Chair of the Coventry Pride of Place Board, said: 

Coventry is a dynamic and diverse city with incredible potential. As businesses, we have a responsibility to help unlock that potential – especially for young people in our most disadvantaged communities. By working together, we can tackle the challenges head-on and create real opportunities through skills development, training, and meaningful experiences. Today’s visit is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when we collaborate with purpose to help people build brighter futures.

Kieran Harding, Acting CEO of Business in the Community, said:    

At Business in the Community, we believe that every young person and jobseeker deserves a clear pathway into work. Today’s Seeing is Believing visit shed light on the challenges that young people in Coventry face during their education and early careers that can lead to them becoming NEET, as well as the importance of business intervention to ensure that young people are able to reach their full potential in the world of work. Insights from Coventry will not only make a big difference for the local community there, but also, through cross-sector collaboration, help communities across the UK create impact at pace and scale.

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, was born from a simple but powerful belief that the best way to close the gap between the boardroom and the community was to take business leaders out to the communities and, through the power of experiential learning, to inspire and challenge participants. The visits are designed to encourage business leaders to think strategically about the implications for their own businesses and the practical actions that can be taken in response, leading to meaningful and sustained impact for both businesses and communities. To date, over 25,000 business leaders have taken part in the King’s Seeing is Believing programme which has led to various 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

Photos of the visit are available upon request.  For further information, please contact Polly Dacam, Press Officer, on 020 7566 6638.

References

About Business in the Community

Our Vision: Responsible business is the foundation for economic growth. 
  
Our Mission: We convene, campaign, and consult to deliver economic, social, and environmental change. 
  
Who We Are: Business in the Community is the UK’s largest and most influential responsible business network supported by our Royal Founding Patron, King Charles III. 
  
Why Join: We work in partnership with business, government, and other voluntary sector partners to lead action on the ground across the UK. We combine over 40 years of thought leadership and experience with delivery in organisations and in communities. 

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