Wythenshawe Pathways

The Challenge:

Career Connect provides the NEET Prevention and Reduction Service for Manchester City Council. Wythenshawe has a high number of young people not in education, employment or training. Many young people in the area told our team that they wanted to move straight into employment. However, despite lots of local industry, they felt it wasn’t accessible, with entry to apprenticeships also being seen as a barrier due to the competition involved.

How we made a difference:

Working with Manchester City Council, Career Connect developed the Wythenshawe Pathways Programme. It was designed to:

• Offer attractive, paid work placements at the Real Living Wage for six months for NEET 16-17-year-olds.
• Be hyperlocal, helping young people discover opportunities where they live and removing the barrier of travel.
• Have a less competitive recruitment process allowing young people with few qualifications or no experience a greater chance of success
• Provide longer term pathways planning for young people.
• Build relationships with a participating employer and ensure realistic expectations.

Career Connect and Manchester City Council secured the council’s Neighbourhoods Team as an employer.

Career Connect held a recruitment event as part of Wythenshawe Youth Action Day, and publicised the opportunity to young people with whom they were working, also helping them with the recruitment process.

Young people who were successful with their application took part in pre-placement employability training with Career Connect to help with work readiness. During this time, they received a bursary payment, which was social value funded.

• The young people spent four days a week with their employer, and one day working with The Growth Company to improve their Maths and English qualification levels
• The young people received pastoral support from Career Connect advisers throughout, keeping them on track.
• In 2023/24 eight young people completed their six-month paid employment placement.
• There was 100% progression into further opportunities.
• One young person was taken on as an apprentice in the Neighbourhoods Team, and others progressed into apprenticeships or paid employment with local employers.
• Other young people completed their CSCS card with Career Connect and were supported into further opportunities.
• All young people taking part achieved at least one level higher in literacy and numeracy.

The initial success of the Wythenshawe Pathways programme led to its relaunch in February 2024. The programme has been expanded with two groups in North and South Manchester and supported by UKSPF funds.