30/09/2026
Today was a big day for Spark Youth.
At a time when the UK is facing a growing challenge around young people and work, it would be easy to focus on the statistics and the barriers. At Spark, we believe in focusing on something else: potential, opportunity and what happens when people come together to create both.
Today we welcomed Rt Hon Alan Milburn to Spark as part of his work on the Government’s Young People and Work review. Alan was given the opportunity to see Spark for himself, hear about our journey, meet the team and most importantly, listen directly to the young people, employers, partners and supporters who make Spark what it is.
The heart of the visit was our roundtable discussion, bringing young people and employers together to have an honest conversation about what needs to change.
Two simple questions shaped the discussion:
“What makes the difference between a young person wanting to move forward and actually being able to move forward?”
And to employers:
“If we could change just ONE thing to give more young people a genuine pathway into work and opportunity, what would you change?”
The conversation was honest, open and incredibly powerful. Hearing Bethany, Alfie, Adam and Nathan share their experiences and successes was a real highlight, alongside the contributions from the employers and partners around the table.
Alan's reflections captured something that sits at the heart of Spark: the importance of building the bridge between young people, employers and communities.
And then we put that into action!
Within minutes after the round table, the Hub was buzzing with our Youth Job Fair. Over 200 people came through the doors, with more than 140 young people engaging with employers, exploring opportunities, getting support and making connections. CVs were reviewed, conversations started, opportunities discussed and doors opened. This is what Spark is about.
The challenges facing young people are real. But so is their potential.
We are not here simply to talk about the future of young people, we are here to help build it.
A huge thank you to NatWest Group, Nugent and Cisco for backing our event, every employer who joined us, our partners, supporters and volunteers and most importantly, the young people who continue to inspire everything we do.
Today showed what is possible when we stop talking about young people and start creating opportunities with them. The challenges are real. But so is the talent, ambition and potential of the next generation.
