For employers
Volunteers from large and small local employers are vital to the success of the YSEG Careers Cluster.
Get involved
There are many ways the employers and employees can contribute, such as:
- Delivering a workshop to develop employability skills, CV writing, or completing an application form
- Participating in mock interview sessions
- Answering questions/talking to young people about your job and career journey
- Setting challenges for students based on real world scenarios
- Working with teachers to co-design and deliver activities in school
- Hosting work placements (there are various models on offer alongside traditional face-to-face provision in the office)
- Hosting insight visits at your workplace for groups of students and teachers
Benefits for you and your staff
- Staff development opportunities
- Community engagement and the opportunity to meet social value commitments
- Supporting and developing local talent
- Creating a talent pipeline for the future
- An opportunity for your business to learn from Hounslow’s young people
How we can support you
The YSEG Careers Cluster can act as a central broker, reducing the need for multiple contacts and engagements with different schools by:
- Connecting you to school projects that align with your values and employment sector needs
- Offering training and support to help your employees develop high quality and impactful engagement with young people
The Employer Standards from the Careers Enterprise Company can also help by offering a tool and framework to help you further improve the quality and impact of your careers education engagement with schools.
Quotes
Julie Holmes, Social Value Lead at Zest (July 2027)
I've been volunteering with Youth Careers Collective (formerly Spark) for just over a year and have had the opportunity to support activities in eight schools, including Meet the Employer sessions, Speed Networking, Career Pathways, and Mock Interviews.
In my role as Social Value Manager at Zest, it can be incredibly difficult to establish meaningful links with schools. Youth Careers Collective makes that possible by creating well-organised volunteering opportunities and working with schools that need them most, particularly those in areas of deprivation and with SEND pupils.
Harcharan Sidhu, Lead Senior Architect at Capgemini (July 2027)
What began as a desire to give back evolved into a sustained commitment to supporting young people as they navigated career choices, built confidence, and developed employability skills.
I consistently found the work both challenging and inspiring, particularly seeing the direct impact of industry exposure and mentoring on young people who may not otherwise have access to these opportunities. Working alongside educators, employers, and volunteers reinforced the importance of early intervention, representation, and practical guidance in shaping future career pathways.
This volunteering experience strengthened my own leadership, communication, and coaching skills while deepening my sense of purpose and social responsibility. The most meaningful outcome has been witnessing young people progress with greater confidence, clarity, and aspiration as a result of our collective efforts.
