Bradford is the UK’s youngest city. Almost a quarter of the district’s 528,000 population is under 16.

That is a huge amount of future potential to drive the business engine of the city forward.

Helping to harness that potential is Ahead Partnership, a Yorkshire-based social enterprise, which is working to ensure students from Bradford schools are ready for work when they take the next step.

It has an ongoing ambitious project which will see 27,000 students in the Bradford district given the experience of working and the life skills needed to succeed in business over the current academic year.

The project is funded by national organisation the Careers & Enterprise Company through the Bradford Opportunity Area Programme, with Bradford Council among those on board as a partner.

Launched last October, the initiative will involve Ahead working with dozens of schools and education providers, helping to prepare school leavers and young people for the world of work, and provide an insight into the working environment.

We caught up with Ahead Partnership chief executive Stephanie Burras to find out how things were going.

One of the key areas the partnership needed support from was the business community. When the scheme was launched, an appeal was made for more business involvement.

Stephanie said the response so far has been incredible – but they were always looking to get more companies on board.

“We’ve seen a phenomenal response from Bradford businesses of all sizes – from SMEs and entrepreneurs, to established global employers,” she said.

“It is only through having this range of experience, both from a local, regional, national and international level, that we can deliver the range of experiences, which will help to shape the future of the young people we work with.

“The businesses and organisations we have on board also offer a fantastic range of experience from different sectors, giving young people in the city a fuller picture of what the world of work might look like for them.

“We’re incredibly proud of our partners and would encourage any business in Bradford and the surrounding area to get involved and see what a fulfilling and worthwhile exercise taking part in these initiatives can be. Not only will it help them to integrate with the communities in which they operate, but it’s also a great way to create a talent pipeline for their employees of the future. It also allows their staff to engage in community activity, which helps their own professional development.”

Stephanie said Ahead Partnership had been working with schools in Bradford for several years, and in that time it had gone from working with just one school to now being in a position where they were working in some capacity with around 90% of secondary education.

“Our work with a school might range from an enterprise challenge with a specific classroom of 20-30 young people, through to an Experience Day (such as the one we held in November at Bradford Academy), in which we work with years 7-11, which can help over 500 students,” she said.

“Our activities can take any form, such as mock workplace interviews on a one-to-one basis led by employers, which really help older students get a feel for the kind of questions they might be asked, through to a contextualised growth sector workshop that helps bring the industry to life, or an aspirational careers panel where students have the opportunity to meet a range of motivational role models, at every stage in their careers.”

Stephanie burras, ahead partnership CHIEF executive

She said a successful outcome for the partnership was being told they had helped students to make the right choices.

“All of our work is focussed around helping young people to understand the variety of job roles on the market and on their doorstep, as well as the variety of routes to get there. Should this be through Higher Education, an apprenticeship, or a traineeship, we ensure our students are offered an insight into every route to employment.

“We also focus a large majority of our work on raising students’ aspirations for the world of work; ensuring through our network we are creating opportunities for the young people to broaden their horizons of the workplace and meet role models they wouldn’t normally meet.

“Some of the most pleasing feedback we receive is when one of our activities or sessions helps a young person decide what route they want to embark on in their career. Seeing the impact these initiatives have on the lives of individuals is definitely one of the most rewarding aspects for our team.”

The work they did was particularly important in the current climate of uncertainty around Brexit.

“Not only can we help to address the skills shortages at a local and regional level, we can also help to address national imbalances in terms of education and aspiration,” Stephanie said.

“Despite current uncertainties, the number of people in education will continue to rise in line with population growth, therefore our work can help to showcase the opportunities that exist and help to guide career progression.”

Bradford had been identified as an area that had real potential to make an impact on young people.

“The city is very diverse, and the schools within the area need to cater for a wide range of abilities from different backgrounds. As such, we need to ensure that all students are given the best chance to move into an industry, sector or career, that is right for them,” she said.

“The analysis that we’ve done is showing that our work alongside the business community is making a real difference to these young people, and that will help to boost wider economic and social prosperity.”

The funding for the latest project has allowed Ahead to expand activities in Bradford by 175 per cent this academic year, to reach some 27.000 students, and they were looking at even more ambitious projects going forward in Bradford and across Yorkshire.

“We carefully monitor the effectiveness of our work, through consultation with the schools, the business partners, and most importantly, with the students we work with.

“Our research shows that 100% of the Bradford employers we’ve worked with say that our activities made it easier for them to engage with local young people.

“In the same survey, 98% of students said our activities helped them understand the skills and qualifications needed for work. Crucially, for us, 97% of students said that our activities improved their confidence and self-belief,” Stephanie said.

“Our work in Bradford has been a great example of the change that can happen when we all work together. Bringing together a wide range of stakeholders, partners, community groups, from schools and, through to businesses and the local council, mean that we’re all helping each other towards a common aim.”

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, said: “The work Ahead Partnership is doing in Bradford provides a real chance for young people to learn new skills and develop their knowledge.

“Bradford is the youngest city in England and it’s crucial we support the younger generation to help them reach their potential and promote the city as a great place to live, work and do business.”