Unlocking potential, and shaping the future together
Since 2004, we have been delivering programmes that support the development of essential skills that set young people to thrive in the future world of work. We partner with employers to deliver bespoke careers and skills programmes.
Our bespoke skills and career programmes have been carefully designed to support young people, while helping businesses reach their social value goals. Together, we can create fantastic opportunities for young people, and create strong future talent.
Our Vision
A world where every young person’s future is limitless and every employer actively nurtures future talent.
For more than 20 years, we’ve partnered with employers across the UK to create careers and skills programmes that break down barriers, improve social mobility and open doors to future careers.
We aim to:
-
01. Drive positive change in communities
-
02. Raise aspirations and build confidence in young people
-
03. Reduce the levels of youth unemployment through early intervention support
-
04. Create partnerships that deliver real impact across the country
-
05. Promote diversity, inclusion and opportunity with all our partners
-
06. Reinvest our profits to further our social purpose
Testimonals
Our Values
We are excited to build a team of committed and passionate individuals who live our values and culture:
Change
We inspire change and embrace challenges to help us develop and deliver our ideas. We learn from experience, encourage innovation, and celebrate new ideas.
Passion
We are passionate and positive about all our work. We take pride in what we do, responsibility for what we achieve and are always proactive in our approach.
Individuality
We recognise individual strengths and support everyone we work with. We celebrate difference and show kindness in all situations.
Partnership
We succeed as one team. We are collaborative and respectful to create a culture of trust, where sharing and learning is easy and people can thrive.
From small beginnings and big intentions
2024
Ahead Partnership marks 20 years of social impact with the launch of our new website and logo as well as a special celebration event for our partners, supporters, friends and team past and present.
2023
We won the Future of Work award at the Digital Leaders Impact Awards and won the Gold Award in the socio-economic category at the International CSR Excellence Awards. This showcased our work on a national and international stage.
2022
Our Growing Talent Digital Leeds programme, which brings together key employers within the city ‘s thriving tech scene, was awarded the prestigious Leeds Digital Festival Diversity & Inclusion Award.
2021
We launched our Growing Talent programmes which provide collaborative platforms that allow businesses to act together the address skills issues and deliver greater social value.
2020
The pandemic caused significant disruption to everyday life. Young people were amongst those hardest hit so we adapted our programmes to be delivered virtually, so that even those in isolation at home could take part. We reached 63,857 young people through digital resources during this time.
2017
We become a significant partner to the newly-formed Careers and Enterprise Company, delivering programmes to support young people across the Tees Valley, Yorkshire and the West Midlands.
We were delighted to be crowned ‘Best in Class’ at the national British Chamber Business Awards for our business and education partnerships.
2015
We set up our first operations within the West Midlands in partnership with Birmingham City Council, Greater Birmingham Chamber and the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership
2014
Stephanie Burras, Founder & CEO of Ahead Partnership was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. This recognised her work through Ahead Partnership to support businesses in Yorkshire to come together and create opportunities for the region’s young people.
2013
Leeds Ahead secured funding from Big Lottery Fund to expand its operations outside of Leeds. We took our first expansion steps into South and West Yorkshire and changed our name to Ahead Partnership.
2010
We played an instrumental part in establishing 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) in the UK for the Goldman Sachs Foundation. Since its launch in Yorkshire and the Humber in 2010, over 1,400 entrepreneurs have graduated from the programme. The 10KSB UK community sustains more than 40,000 jobs in the UK.
2007
Leeds Ahead helped Leeds City Council to secure £21m of Local Enterprise Growth Initiative funding to support the most disadvantaged areas of Leeds. Leeds Ahead grew its team to 10 to deliver elements of the programme.
2004
Leeds Ahead was founded by Stephanie Burras to deliver the Leeds Business Broker Project where businesses could play a pivotal role in supporting the regeneration of different areas of Leeds. Leeds Ahead was launched at the West Yorkshire Playhouse (now Leeds Playhouse).
Young people are at the heart of everything we do. Since 2004, we have been delivering programmes that support young people’s development of essential skills that set them up to thrive in whatever career they choose.
Get in touch
If you are interested in hearing more about how Ahead Partnership can help you, please complete this form. A member of our team will get in touch with more information.