JPMorganChase invests £3.3 million in work experience for disadvantaged young people

• Three year commitment partnering with The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) to transform work experience for young people across England.

• Targeting 3,700  young people furthest from the labour market, in response to Government’s manifesto commitment of two weeks’ worth of high-quality modern work experience for every young person.

• Coinciding with ONS NEET data expected to surpass one million.

• Programme aims to give parity to disadvantaged young people, who often lack work experience opportunities. 

The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC), the national body for careers education in England, has announced the development of a new strategic partnership with JPMorganChase to expand high-quality work experience opportunities for socio-economically disadvantaged young people. The £3.3 million investment – part of JPMorganChase’s broader £40 million UK philanthropic commitment to drive inclusive economic growth – aims to transform access to work experience, for those furthest from the labour market.

The collaboration builds on JPMorganChase’s £4.8m investment in CEC’s Effective Transition Fund (ETF), targeting education and employment support for young people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

• This new initiative, the Future Ready Fund, will:
  Provide over 3,700 young people in 250 schools with 10 days of immersive, modern work experience across 10 regional Careers Hubs in England.
• Target students ages 12-13 (Year 8), supporting them over three years, through to age 14-15 (Year 10), offering long-term engagement with employers aligned to local sector skills needs.
• Focus eligibility on Free School Meals, as well as other characteristics such as students with special educational needs (SEND) or those at higher risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) will be prioritised to join the fund.

Evidence shows a persistent gap in work readiness for young people with SEND and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. 15-16 year old girls eligible for free school meals (FSM) are 15 percentage points less likely than non-FSM boys to feel confident discussing their strengths in an interview. FSM boys and girls, aged  between 11-16, are significantly less likely to feel work-ready. Additionally, studies show that young people with SEND require more intensive support, particularly as they transition from education and into work. 

Research also indicates that disadvantaged young people often lack access to meaningful work experience, compared to other peer groups, creating additional barriers to their work readiness and career prospects. The Future Ready Fund will offer a clearer understanding of the long-term impact of work experience for these cohorts including how to enhance quality interaction with a diverse range of employers and sectors across the country.

The fund was announced at an event hosted by JPMorganChase in Parliament on 13 May 2025, attendees included  Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorganChase, the Rt Hon. the Baroness Morgan of Cotes and Chair of CEC, alongside senior leaders from KPMG, Framestore, parliamentarians, the Social Mobility Foundation and more senior representatives from government, business and the education sector to mark the launch of the fund. 

Baroness Morgan  of Cotes and Chair of The Careers & Enterprise Company: 

“Work experience is a crucial part of a young person’s education and their preparation for life beyond the classroom. We want more young people, particularly those that face the biggest barriers, to have opportunity to secure meaningful interactions with employers and the workplace. 

“We are delighted to be working with JPMorganChase on the new Future Ready Fund programme, a vital step towards ensuring that every young person – no matter their background – has the chance to explore their potential and prepare for the future world of work.” 

John Yarham, Interim CEO of The Careers & Enterprise Company, said:

“We are proud to continue our partnership with JPMorganChase, which has already proven how regionally targeted and tailored careers support can improve young people’s outcomes. This latest investment builds on a growing evidence base that shows how structured, high-quality work experience can build confidence, increase employability, and help young people take their best next step – especially those furthest away from work-related networks.”

“We are investing in skills and training to help U.K. residents access greater career opportunities, because we think engaged labour force participation is a critical element of the strong economy that benefits U.K. business.” said Anna Dunn, CEO of JPMorganChase U.K. “Our continued investments will support the U.K.’s increased focus on boosting skills and pathways to quality careers.”

The Future Ready Fund will support over 500 employers and 250 schools to co-create and deliver high-quality, flexible work experience that prepares young people for success in the modern labour market. The initiative also aims to improve the evidence base on effective interventions, helping to inform broader education and skills reforms, and align with the Government’s work experience guarantee.
With nearly one in seven young people in the UK currently NEET – the highest level since 2013 – this investment represents a timely and strategic contribution to national efforts to boost skills, reduce inequality and ensure every young person has access to meaningful career opportunities.

ENDS

About the partnership

This collaboration builds on previous JPMorganChase investment in CEC, now totalling nearly £8 million since 2021, which supported over 6,200 young people identified as at risk of disengaging from education, through coaching and work placements. Independent evaluation by the Institute for Employment Studies found that 94% of participants transitioned successfully to college or training, with 93% remaining on their courses after six months – outperforming national benchmarks for disadvantaged young people.

JPMorganChase in the United Kingdom

With a legacy dating back more than 200 years, JPMorganChase has a track record of demonstrating leadership during times of both economic growth and financial instability. The firm provides £600 billion in credit and capital to nearly 4,500 medium and large companies and supports over two million retail customers. At the same time, together with its non-profit partners the firm has supported over 33,000 low income households to reduce their debt and improve their financial health, helped over 10,800 small businesses to grow their activity and placed over 9,800 individuals into apprenticeships or full and part-time employment.