London UK, 16th February 2023 – Brands2Life, the award-winning communications agency, has supported over 90 young people with their progress into the workplace and employment in 2022 through its partnership with Family Action’s HeadStart programme, and has committed to supporting 90 more young people in 2023.
The partnership involved industry information days, career workshops, interview practice and paid work experience throughout the entire year, as well as pro bono campaigns to raise awareness of the programme and fundraising. The last workshop of the year covered personal brand, first impressions, personal story telling, elevator pitch and interview skills, aiming to equip participants with the skills and confidence needed to impress at job interviews. The agency has hosted workshops with Project Zero, a youth group based in Walthamstow, as well as students studying an ESOL course at South Thames College. Brands2Life will continue the partnership in 2023.
HeadStart, run by national charity Family Action, is a youth employability programme that supports disadvantaged young people to develop the skills, experience and confidence needed to secure and stay in employment. Participants are inspired and supported to ‘give time, gain skills, get ahead’ by taking part in social action volunteering, employer led workshops and a guaranteed interview with leading brands and businesses for entry level job or paid work experience.
“We partnered with Family Action because it’s a charity making a measurable impact on society, which is one of our core values at Brands2Life and the HeadStart programme leads the way in showing how businesses can work to develop the employability of young people,” said Sarah Scales, Co-Founder at Brands2Life.
“Our people have thoroughly enjoyed working with the HeadStarters and welcoming them into our teams. It’s given the young people a real insight into the industry, which many had not previously considered, as well as new skills and experiences to eventually help them into the workplace. We’re excited to see what lies next for everyone who joined us.”
Robert Whiteside, National Manager, HeadStart, Family Action added, “The team at Brands2Life have been fantastic, from those organising the placements and facilitating workshops to those voluntarily line managing our young people. We’re really pleased with the success of the partnership and have had some immense feedback from the young people. We look forward to continuing our work together in 2023.”
Comments from those who completed placements at Brands2Life include:
“This internship gave me a greater understanding of the ways marketing is integrated in everyday life and how powerful media truly is”;
“Thank you to the Brands2life team for an enjoyable experience. I’d also like to thank HeadStart for making this internship the valuable experience it so truly was!”;
“Within the Marketing and Creative Services team, my supervisor wanted me to have the best possible week and she achieved exactly that”;
“I really appreciate all the effort you put into helping me get this interview and I will be able to apply these skills for the future. You have also helped me write a CV and cover letter that no one has ever helped me with so I wanted to say thank you so much and wish you well.” – HeadStart Participant
The initiative marked the latest phase of Brands2Life’s goal to widen participation into the PR industry, boosting diversity and making the industry a more inclusive place to be and work. Brands2Life has an on-going partnership with local state school, The Ark Globe Academy, which has over 1,000 predominately non-white pupils, where the agency has run three career enrichment days for 50 pupils, coached their marketing manager and hosts sixth form pupils for work experience each year.
Brands2Life has previously made significant contributions to both Action for Children/ByteNight and HackneyQuest.
