Liz Kendall MP meets employers in Leicester helping to get young people ready for work

• Liz Kendall MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions visited a school in her constituency of Leicester West
• Business leaders from JPMorganChase and Salesforce emphasised the importance of investing today to secure the talent pipeline of tomorrow
• School leaders and careers professionals outlined how local join-up and targeted interventions are helping to combat rising NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) levels 
• Initiatives leverage public investment with backing from the private sector to align with local economic needs to close skills gaps

Liz Kendall MP, Member of Parliament for Leicester West and Work and Pensions Secretary, visited Beamont Leys secondary school in her constituency to see firsthand how schools and employers are collaborating to provide targeted interventions for young people to prevent them becoming economically inactive.

During the visit organised by The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC), the national body for careers education, business leaders, including global tech giant Salesforce and financial services multinational JPMorganChase, underscored the importance of investment in targeted interventions to support young people facing additional barriers into work.

School and careers leaders showcased how partnership with businesses is helping to reduce youth unemployment, raise aspirations and improve skills and employability, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Employer support, coordinated through the local Careers Hub, activates work experience opportunities, apprenticeship awareness alongside coaching and mentoring support.

The visit highlighted successful initiatives such as the Effective Transitions Fund (ETF) which targets young people most at risk of not remaining in education or training on leaving school, due to the barriers they face. The pilot, which was delivered by the CEC with £2 million funding from JPMorganChase, has been expanded, backed by a further £2.5 million from the firm.

Liz also heard about CEC and global tech giant Salesforce’s pioneering Digital Fund, which is breaking down barriers to apprenticeships and encouraging disadvantaged young people to take up jobs in the rapidly growing digital sector.

Liz Kendall, Labour MP for Leicester West said: "I want to pay tribute to Beaumont Leys School and the Leicester and Leicestershire Careers Hub for their vital work supporting young people in Leicester to realise their potential and make a confident step into the workplace.

“It was inspiring to hear from local students about their desire to get into work and from businesses who are investing in our young people to succeed and thrive in the future workforce.

One of my top priorities locally and nationally is getting Britain working again, and it’s excellent to see business, schools and local organisations working hand in hand in Leicester to support young people in this ambition."

Oli de Botton, CEO of The Careers & Enterprise Company, added: "High-quality careers education is essential in preparing all young people for their futures, particularly those facing additional challenges. Today tells us that business and education can achieve brilliant things together. Thanks to Liz Kendall MP for joining us today; her visit underscores the importance of collaboration between schools and employers in creating meaningful pathways to work for every student."

Simon Heath, Managing Director – Global Head of Agency Securities Finance, JPMorganChase, said: “Today we saw the impact of public-private partnerships in increasing the career readiness of young people, and are pleased to see MP Liz Kendall's support for the Careers & Enterprise Company. We are proud to support the Effective Transitions Fund, which identifies the best support methods for disadvantaged youth. This Fund has already shown impressive results in guiding young people towards lasting post-16 opportunities and increasing their career opportunities’.”

Jennifer Achiro, Regional Vice President Central Government at Salesforce: "I am proud to represent Salesforce’s philanthropic initiative, the Digital Futures Accelerator Fund (DFAF). As a leader in agentic AI, with cutting-edge technologies like Agentforce, we are committed to supporting initiatives that accelerate student knowledge of future careers and skills required to achieve them. Our partnerships with the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) and the Leicester and Leicestershire Careers Hub enhance these efforts by infusing innovation into local programmes such as We Discover Digital. I was delighted to meet with Liz Kendall MP today to share our commitment to foster employer-student relationships and develop the digital skills required for their future success.”

Dawn Parkinson, Headteacher at Beaumont Leys School, said: “It's been fantastic to welcome Liz Kendall back to Beaumont Leys School. Today’s visit has spotlighted the vital role of careers education in supporting students into career pathways—giving them the skills, confidence, and opportunities they need now and in the future.”