How South Yorkshire Is Powering Growth Through Digital Careers — with HSBC, Zero Gravity and the South Yorkshire Careers Hub

Economic growth depends on one critical factor: people with the right skills, ready to step into the jobs of the future. For businesses, the challenge is clear, finding and developing talent. For young people, it’s about understanding opportunities and gaining the confidence, experience, and skills to pursue them. 

That’s where careers education plays a vital role. 

The South Yorkshire Careers Hub is working with HSBC and Zero Gravity through the Boosting Skills Pathways programme to build stronger digital and technology career routes for young people, particularly those confirmed to have lower social capital. The initiative from The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC), focuses on raising awareness of careers in digital and financial services, strengthening employability skills, and increasing progression into apprenticeships and work experience.  

Connecting Growth with Talent 

The Careers Hub’s role is to bridge the gap between education and industry, helping employers reach emerging talent while ensuring young people can see and access future opportunities. 

Tina Slater, Head of Employment and Careers, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), said:

“Our focus is on creating clear, meaningful pathways for young people, particularly those who might not otherwise see themselves in sectors like digital and financial services. Through the Careers Hub, we work with employers to open up access to real opportunities, including workplace encounters, mentoring, skills development and routes into apprenticeships. Programmes like Boosting Skills Pathways help raise aspiration, build confidence and social capital, and support young people to understand what’s possible for them, while enabling employers to engage with and shape a more inclusive future workforce.” 

HSBC: Building the Digital Pipeline

As a rapidly growing employer in digital and technology, HSBC is partnering with Zero Gravity and the South Yorkshire Careers Hub to make a sustainable impact on the skills, confidence, and ambition of young people in South Yorkshire. Through a combination of school engagement, office visits, mentoring, and digital learning pathways, the programme helps young people in the region to build aspiration, understand career routes, and develop the skills needed to succeed in the workplace. 

Milly Webb, Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Technology, HSBC, said:  

“As part of our commitment to building an inclusive workplace and to growing our UK Technology Centre in Sheffield, we’re delighted to launch our Aspire programme, which aims to benefit local communities and help us build a sustainable future pipeline of talent. Zero Gravity, our social mobility partner, and the Careers Hub have been invaluable in helping us engage schools and prepare young people for the world of work. It’s a privilege seeing the students light up when they meet our volunteers, discover more about opportunities to work with cutting-edge technologies in Sheffield, and push themselves outside of their comfort zone. We’d encourage any employer to connect with their local Careers Hub - the support has been outstanding.” 

Alex O’Connor, Head of Education Partnerships, Zero Gravity said:  
“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t. For too many young people, a lack of professional networks and access to work experience closes doors long before careers begin. We know that work experience can be transformational, yet students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds are far more likely to miss out and twice as likely to become NEET. This has significant implications not just for individuals, but for businesses and the wider economy. That’s why we’re proud to announce our partnership with HSBC and the South Yorkshire Careers Hub to deliver a modern model of work experience that works - combining in-person school takeovers, insight days and digital 1:1 mentoring. So that in South Yorkshire, opportunity can truly match talent.” 

Why Careers Outreach Makes a Difference

When employers engage meaningfully with schools and colleges, the results are tangible: more interest in sector careers, stronger applications, and young people who arrive better prepared for work. 

John Yarham, Chief Executive, The Careers & Enterprise Company, said: 
“Careers education is a vital entry point for young people into the opportunities that will power the future of our country. Every day, we see employers and schools doing brilliant work connecting education with the evolving world of work. Outreach works, businesses that do it well see more interest in their sector, more applications, and young people who are more work-ready when they arrive. As the national body for careers education, we’re working locally and across sectors to maximise opportunities for young people. My encouragement to any employer or sector body looking to grow their talent pipeline is to use our Employer Standards and partner with their local Careers Hub.” 

Supporting Young People into Future Careers 

The South Yorkshire Boosting Skills Pathways project aims to: 

• Equip over 500 young people with digital skills linked to real career routes
• Increase enthusiasm and awareness of careers in digital and financial services
• Strengthen readiness for HSBC apprenticeships in South Yorkshire
• Boost application rates and improve the quality of candidates
• Reduce barriers for young people from underrepresented backgrounds 

By combining employer leadership, targeted careers engagement, and practical skills development, the programme shows how regional partnerships can help young people access opportunity, while supporting business growth and local economic resilience.