Building vital life skills
and confidence during
Talk Money Week

As young people prepare to enter the world of work, it’s crucial that they’re equipped not just with academic knowledge, but with practical life skills, including the ability to understand and manage money confidently. Research has found that our approach to money can be shaped by the age of just seven, and that it can be difficult to unlearn bad financial habits as young people get older.

Financial literacy isn’t always taught at home or in the classroom, yet it plays a fundamental role in shaping future opportunities, wellbeing and independence. That’s why employers have a vital role to play in bridging the gap between education and employment, helping to ensure that the future talent pipeline is informed, prepared and confident in managing their money.

This Talk Money Week (3–7 November 2025), we teamed up with Vanquis to help young women in Bradford develop vital life skills, confidence and awareness through a bespoke programme: Step into Tech.

Hosted at Vanquis’ Bradford headquarters, the event brought together 45 young women from Dixons McMillan Academy, Co-op Academy Grange and Carlton Keighley. Together, they explored how technology and financial literacy intersect, and how understanding money can empower them to make informed decisions about their futures.

Vanquis co-designed the programme to help students explore pathways into the region’s growing financial services and digital sectors. The day included interactive workshops, networking activities and opportunities to meet Vanquis colleagues in tech roles — all aimed at helping students reflect on their strengths and how they could shape future careers.

The sessions, led by Vanquis volunteers, encouraged students to recognise their personal skills, gain insight into the digital side of the banking industry, and develop the confidence to advocate for themselves when pursuing opportunities in education or work.

To mark Talk Money Week, we also introduced a special “Speak Up and Be Counted” activity, designed to spark open conversations about financial choices in an engaging and relatable way, prompting consideration of financial needs versus wants, and the trade-off between instant gratification and long-term value.

By grounding the discussion in everyday choices, the activity helped students understand how financial literacy aligns with broader life skills like decision-making, communication and resilience. It also created a safe space for sharing ideas and experiences, helping to build confidence in talking about money, which can often feel intimidating or unfamiliar to discuss.

Talk Money Week, led by the Money and Pensions Service, encourages people across the UK to talk more openly about finances. We used the opportunity to help students connect the dots between financial understanding and wider life skills such as communication, decision-making and resilience.

Andy Clarke, our Head of Strategic Partnerships, said: “We know that financial wellbeing and career confidence are closely linked. Step into Tech with Vanquis gave young people the space to talk about money, the future and their own strengths in a supportive setting. By helping them make those connections, we’re building the life skills they’ll need to thrive in any career, not just in tech.”

Rob Lawson, Head of Sustainability at Vanquis said: “At Vanquis, we’re passionate about helping young people unlock the combined power of financial confidence and digital skills. Partnering with Ahead Partnership allows us to inspire the next generation right here in Bradford — helping them see the potential of careers in tech and professional services.

Through initiatives like this, we’re empowering young people to make informed choices about their futures and giving them the tools to manage their finances confidently at a crucial stage in their education.”