Youth Project Helps Young People Build Confidence and Move into Work

• The Growth Company’s Youth Project pilot supported 91 young people with online workshops and in‑person sessions designed to boost confidence, build skills, and improve job readiness.
• Targeted support addressed key barriers to youth employment, including health conditions, digital exclusion, and financial pressures, through tailored guidance.
• The pilot delivered strong outcomes, with rising confidence, renewed optimism about work.

The Growth Company has launched a new Youth Project designed to help young people aged 16 to 25 build confidence, develop new skills, and get work ready.

The pilot, delivered over recent months, brought together a diverse group of participants, offering a mix of online learning, in‑person activities, and personalised support.

91 young people took part in the pilot phase. Each participant was given access to a programme of more than 15 online workshops, which covered topics such as CV writing, adaptability and problem‑solving, financial literacy, teamwork, social media risks, creativity, professional relationships, and apprenticeships.

These digital sessions were complemented by face‑to‑face group activities focused on confidence building, teamwork, and decision‑making – all key skills that employers consistently value.

Big challenges…

The pilot also highlighted the wider challenges faced by many young people today.

Nearly one in four participants (24.7%) reported having a physical health condition, and 29.7% reported a disability, highlighting the importance of providing accessible and flexible support.

In addition, 24.2% said they were not confident using technology, demonstrating the need for digital inclusion measures.

To help remove digital and financial barriers, we partnered with Citizens Advice so that participants could access free IT equipment and money management courses.

This included free laptops, Wi‑Fi cards, and specialist budgeting workshops. The initiative aimed not only to support employment goals but also to improve financial wellbeing and independence.

Interested participants were also supported through a construction‑focused employer roundtable delivered in partnership with Keepmoat, giving them the opportunity to ask questions and explore future careers in the sector.

Across the cohort, the two most reported obstacles were a lack of experience and low confidence.

The workshops and in‑person sessions were structured to address these concerns, giving participants the opportunity to practise new skills in a supportive environment and gain greater awareness of the employment opportunities available to them.

… and positive outcomes

The early results from the pilot are encouraging.

Following completion of the programme, 45% of participants reported feeling hopeful or excited about entering the world of work – a significant shift for those who joined with limited confidence or direction.

Confidence levels also increased markedly, with 89% of participants saying they now feel confident applying for jobs.

What’s more, 22% have already moved into training or employment, showing the immediate impact of the support offered.

One participant shared their experience: “I’ve learned more about jobs, how I can improve my confidence, and other things like apprenticeships.”

Another said: “I liked the group discussions as it helps me see that there are others in similar situations and I'm not alone.”

We aim to build on the success of the Youth Project to expand opportunities for young people across the North of England and the Midlands.

For more information about the project or future opportunities, please email YouthPilot[at]gcemployment.uk.

The Growth Company

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a 35-year history of enabling growth, creating jobs, and improving lives. We help people and businesses to develop, grow, and succeed through a range of employment, skills, and business support services. We provide employment, justice, and health services across the North of England and beyond.

Find out more about our support for young people.