The Youth Guarantee Trailblazer is a new initiative aimed at supporting young people aged 18–21 in our region to find work, training, or apprenticeships. As an employer, you can play a vital role in this effort, while also benefiting your organisation.

Through the Trailblazer, you’ll be able to access specialist support to help you connect with motivated young people who are keen to learn, work and grow, people who share your values and are looking for the right opportunity to get started.

Register your interest to connect with motivated young people who are keen to learn, work and grow.

Express your interest to get started
Get in touch by email

How employers can get involved?

  1. Short-term work placements – host a young person for up to 8 weeks to give them first-hand experience in the workplace
  2. Internships or live projects – provide structured, meaningful experiences aligned with projects that are in progress, helping build skills and open doors to future opportunities
  3. Job shadowing – let a young person spend a day or two shadowing your team to see what your roles involve
  1. Advertise your vacancies – share job openings directly with the Youth Guarantee team so young people in the programme can apply
  2. Support progression – identify young people who’ve completed placements or training and offer employment where possible
  3. Apprenticeships – consider offering an apprenticeship to someone from the Youth Guarantee talent pool
  1. Join employer roundtables – attend networking and best-practice sessions with other employers committed to supporting young people
  2. Mentor or buddy – provide a mentor from your team to support a young person during their placement or early employment
  3. Help shape the programme – share feedback on your experience and contribute to the development of a nationally significant pilot
  1. Employability workshops – volunteer to run sessions to help develop employability skills, including CV’s and mock interviews
  2. Career talks or fairs – share your career journey and advice by visiting local schools, colleges or community event
  3. Industry insights – host site visits or virtual Q&A sessions to show young people what working in your sector is really like

Benefits for employers

Employers receive a structured support offer including:

  1. Mentoring and supervision training
  2. Induction planning support
  3. Templates and tools to manage placements confidently
  4. HR support through HR Essentials
  5. Leadership training through Leadership Fundamentals
  1. Meet motivated young people aged 18–21 who are actively looking to work, train or gain experience
  2. Promote live job vacancies directly to candidates on the programme via the Growth Hub or Skills Connect
  3. Identify and shape your future workforce by building relationships through placements or mentoring
  4. Young people get access to a free bus pass, to help them get to their workplace
  1. Show your commitment to inclusive employment – Supporting Youth Guarantee contributes directly to Good Employment Charter goals and ESG/CSR ambitions.
  2. Positive brand visibility – Participating employers may be featured in local case studies, media, regional employer roundtables, and good practice publications.
  3. Strengthen your local networks – Connect with other forward-thinking employers across the region through networking events and shared learning opportunities.
  1. Be part of a nationally significant pilot – The West of England Youth Guarantee is one of only eight trailblazer programmes in England, helping influence national policy on youth employment.
  2. Give feedback and help improve delivery – Employers are invited to contribute ideas and reflections that can shape how support is offered in the future.