Connecting young people, youth workers and employers to create pathways into work.
Building Connections is an employability programme for young people aged 16–25, delivered by UK Youth in partnership with and funded by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP). The programme supports youth organisations to build stronger relationships with local employers, creating meaningful opportunities for young people to explore careers, develop employability skills and take positive steps towards employment.
As a long-term partner, CCEP plays an active role throughout the programme, with colleagues volunteering at careers events, sharing industry knowledge, supporting employability activities and helping young people build confidence through meaningful conversations and real-world insight. Together, we’re bringing youth organisations, employers and volunteers together to strengthen pathways into employment, demonstrating how collaboration between businesses and the youth sector can create lasting opportunities for young people and stronger local communities.
Today, Building Connections is delivered across London, Reading, Somerset, Swindon, Wigan and Wiltshire.
Building Connections takes a different approach. Rather than focusing solely on CV writing and interview skills, we invest in youth workers, equipping them to become Community Link Workers who build trusted relationships with local employers and create real pathways into work.
Working from safe, supportive spaces, youth workers help young people build confidence, explore careers and access opportunities through employer partnerships, careers events, workplace visits, mentoring and work experience.
Alongside them, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners volunteers share their knowledge and experience, helping young people develop the confidence and connections they need to take their next step.
This version is around half the length of the original, removes repetition between the two sections, and naturally introduces the Community Link Worker model without needing a separate heading. It also keeps the focus on what makes Building Connections different, which is the key message for prospective partners, employers and young people.
How the Programme works
Year One: Connecting
Youth workers develop Community Link Worker skills, build relationships with employers and begin creating opportunities for young people.
Year Two: Deepening
Youth organisations strengthen employer partnerships, delivering careers events, employability activities and ongoing opportunities that support young people on their journey towards employment.
Year Three: Embedding
Organisations embed employer relationships and the Community Link Worker approach into everyday practice, creating sustainable local networks that continue beyond the programme.
- Wigan Youth Zone
- Brighter Futures for Children
- Young Somerset
- Sculpt
- Brentford FC Community Sports Trust
- Young Swindon & Wiltshire
Former delivery partners including Together As One, Greater Manchester Youth Network and Young Leicestershire continue to use the Community Link Worker model and maintain employer relationships developed through Building Connections.
Brentford
Brentford aimed to engage young people outside of school through a range of activities designed to build transferable skills, provide career insights, and offer real-world experiences. The initiative combined mentoring, workshops, after-school clubs, industry visits, and short-term placements across sectors like Sports, Law, and STEAM. Programmes such as Future Focus, Training Ground, and STEAM clubs were tailored to support over 250 participants, with strong collaboration from both existing and new business partners. The approach included mentoring by local professionals, exposure to various industries through events and visits, and opportunities like job fairs and work experience to strengthen connections between young people and the world of work.
Brighter Futures for Children
Brighter Futures for Children intends to deliver the Building Connections programme by identifying NEET and at-risk young people aged 16–25 through existing caseloads, referrals, and local tracking systems. Their approach focused on tailored support, starting with initial assessments and followed by regular one-to-one or group sessions—delivered face-to-face, virtually, or by phone—to explore career goals, remove barriers, and build confidence. Working in partnership with employers like Thames Water, they planned to deliver programmes such as the six-week “Step into Employment,” while also registering with AQA to accredit employability sessions. The programme aimed to support at least 200 young people with career advice, work experience, and volunteering opportunities, while developing further employer links with both established partners and new businesses, with a strong focus on inclusive and supportive workplaces.
Sculpt
Sculpt’s approach to the Building Connections programme focused on creating meaningful employer encounters for young people through a range of tailored initiatives. These include structured employability programmes like Learn2Work for young people with SEND, Bankside Futures for immersive business exposure, and Trust in You for leadership and mentoring. Additional support comes from platforms such as the Youth Advisory Board, Sculpt’s alumni network, and collaborations like Sparking Futures with the South London Careers Hub. Leveraging strong partnerships with Careers Hubs, Business Improvement Districts, and London South Bank University, Sculpt is well-positioned to engage business volunteers and expand opportunities in key sectors such as tech, healthcare, and logistics.
Wigan Youth Zone
Wigan Youth Zone intended to deliver the Building Connections programme through a mix of group sessions, one-to-ones, and workshops focused on building employability skills and raising aspirations. Young people were actively involved in shaping the offer, identifying priorities such as cooking and budgeting, job search support, team-building activities, and financial life skills. The programme also included youth-led mock interviews with local businesses, career talks, site visits, and sessions on self-employment to boost confidence and career awareness. With a strong network of existing and new employer partners, Wigan Youth Zone aimed to provide hands-on experiences, workplace exposure, and tailored support to help young people explore and access a range of employment pathways.
Young Somerset
Young Somerset’s Building Connections programme aims to support 200–250 young people into employment through a coordinated effort led by a dedicated project team and an apprentice supporting delivery as part of their training. The programme aimed to deliver a range of support including CV workshops, mock interviews, and participation in Enterprise Adviser Sessions, helping to promote opportunities across the county. Strong partnerships with organisations such as the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, Education Business Partnership, local councils, and a wide network of businesses enabled meaningful work experiences across sectors like hospitality, retail, digital, construction, and mechanics. Outreach through regional networks and publications helped raise awareness and further strengthen employer engagement across Somerset.
Young Swindon and Wiltshire
Young Swindon and Whiltshire intended to deliver the Building Connections programme by integrating employability support into their existing work with eligible young people, equipping their wider staff team to better engage around careers and community links. In addition, they planned to participate in careers days across Swindon, using these events to connect with young people and offer follow-up support focused on skills development and employability advice. With partnerships including Swindon Borough Council and Nationwide, and ambitions to expand connections with organisations like the National Trust and Swindon Chamber of Commerce, the programme aimed to open up work experience and mentoring opportunities to raise aspirations and support young people into employment
4,356
young people reached in the last 3 years through Building Connections.
5,552
employability connections made
70
colleagues volunteering across 3 years.
In Year 3 alone, 4,356 young people were supported, including 234 taking part in work experience; 73% of event attendees felt more confident about applying for a job.
Most importantly, Building Connections helps young people feel more confident, better connected and better equipped to take their next steps into employment.
Young Person Story: Manon
Before joining Building Connections through Wigan Youth Zone, Manon had lost confidence after repeatedly applying for jobs without success and didn’t know where to begin.
With support from trusted youth workers, she explored creative career pathways, developed her confidence and secured a volunteering opportunity with a local business. Her skills impressed the employer, who offered her a Level 6 marketing apprenticeship, enabling her to gain professional experience while studying towards a degree.
Manon’s story shows how trusted youth work, meaningful employer connections and personalised support can help young people unlock opportunities and achieve their ambitions.