“Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are still six times as likely to be recorded as not in education, training or employment after age 16, and too many lack the information, support and skills to transition into employment. We are looking forward to working with Power2 on their new programme - Power2Aspire - an intensive, early intervention approach to develop employability skills through local work placements and 1:1 support for disadvantaged 14-16-year olds who are considered ‘the hardest to place’ in work experience. The internal innovation builds on Power2’s 20 years of experience of working with over 25,000 of some of the most disadvantaged young people across the North West, the Midlands and London.”
Gina Cicerone and Sam Butters, Co-CEO’s Fair Education Alliance
About Power2 and Will Cole, their lead intrapreneur:
Power2 is a youth development organisation with 20 years’ experience of re-engaging young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who have functioning needs and have dis-engaged from education. The charity has supported over 25,000 young people in the North West, London and Midlands through programmes founded on positive psychology and evidence of what works.
Power2 have seen employability benefits from their flagship Teens & Toddlers programme and want to develop and take to scale an intensive, early intervention approach for young people 14-16 years who are considered ‘the hardest to place’ in work experience. The Intrapreneurship Award allows for an incubation period that will ensure alignment with school-based careers support and time to work with partners to develop the role of ‘work experience specialist advisers’ or WESAs. The WESAs will source and support placements from local employers and provide intensive 1:1 support to the young people to prepare for, complete and benefit from the experience.
Will Cole, the lead intrapreneur, is Power2’s Head of Impact and Programme Development. Having grown up on the Rockingham Estate in Elephant and Castle, South London he experienced many of the challenges young people face today. Will had some fantastic role models that helped him stay on track throughout his education and after graduating from university he felt a sense of duty to set a positive example. He introduced employability support and partnerships to Power2’s Young Leaders programme and in the past developed and delivered employment guidance to ex-offenders and at-risk youth, including at Only Connect UK charity.