Posted on Tuesday 6th May 2025
Staffordshire businesses of all sizes are being encouraged to diversify their workforce and increase their social value as a company by employing care leavers from the county.
Staffordshire County Council has launched its Supporting Care Leavers into Employment programme – matching businesses with young people who have the right skills for new opportunities and tapping into a wealth of skills.
Over 1,000 Staffordshire young people between the ages of 16 and 25 have lived with a foster family, in a children’s home or other supported housing service. And despite being very capable and having a lot to offer, care leavers are significantly less likely to be in education, employment or training.
The programme utilises the Staffordshire Jobs and Careers service – set up by the county council last year to provide a fully funded employment matching service for businesses and job-seekers. Working with the county council’s social care team, it ensures care leavers find employment or apprenticeships suitable for their needs, while businesses take on new employees right for the position they’re advertising.
Businesses wanting to find out more are being invited to attend a Care Leavers into Employment breakfast event on Wednesday 14 May at the Moat House, Acton Trussell, 8am to 10.30am. People can also find out more on the Care Leavers into Employment webpage. Businesses can register to attend on the event webpage.
By signing up to the programme, businesses can obtain a quality mark for demonstrating a commitment to social value and becoming a corporate parent. They can earn gold, silver or bronze awards based on their levels of support.
A match-funded bursary fund has also been set up which businesses can contribute to and will be managed by the Staffordshire Community Foundation. This supports care leavers with costs related to training, business setup, professional clothing, and travel. Donations to the fund are matched by the Staffordshire Community Foundation.
Staffordshire County Council’s assistant director for business and enterprise Anthony Hodge said:
Care leavers in Staffordshire can offer businesses a wealth of talent, ambition and enthusiasm and our new Care Leavers into Employment scheme will match suitable candidates to a business’s needs when looking to recruit.
As a county council, we are committed to fulfilling our role as a corporate parent and extending this to businesses and other employers.
These young people should have the same opportunities and aspirations as other young people.
Businesses taking on care leavers as part of their workforce not only boost diversity and skills but also demonstrate a commitment to local social value.”