Trailblazer Employability Programme
Across Manchester, many young people are leaving school without the skills, confidence, or experience needed to succeed in the world of work.
Despite having potential, they often face significant barriers:
• Limited exposure to professional environments
• Low confidence in their abilities
• Few opportunities to build practical workplace skills
For students from underserved communities, these barriers are compounded by structural inequality, low educational outcomes, and a lack of access to tailored support. Employers frequently cite a gap between qualifications and job-readiness, particularly when it comes to communication, teamwork, and resilience.
The Trailblazer Employability Programme was created to bridge this gap — helping young people develop the mindset, skillset, and experience to thrive in the transition from education into meaningful employment.
What the programme does
The Trailblazer Employability Programme supports young people to build essential workplace skills through hands-on projects, mentoring, and exposure to real working environments. The programme is designed to inspire ambition, strengthen school engagement, and prepare participants for long-term career success.
Projects
Group-based projects where young people explore real-world problems and create practical solutions
Workshops
These focus on developing core employability skills such as communication, problem-solving, time management and teamwork
Mentoring
Professional mentoring that helps participants reflect on their strengths, barriers and aspirations
Employer Engagement
These sessions include guest speakers, mock interviews and insight days
Career Mapping
Activities linking school subjects with future pathways
Personal Development
Coaching to build resilience, motivation and confidence
The programme is aligned with Gatsby Benchmarks and supports schools to meet OFSTED personal development standards. Delivery is trauma-informed, culturally competent, and co-designed with participants to ensure relevance and accessibility.
The change we hope to see
Trailblazer helps participants build the mindsets and skillsets needed to thrive in the world of work, supporting:
Building Skills
Focused sessions on teamwork, problem-solving, and communication prepare young people for real employment contexts.
Personal Growth
Personal mentoring and group challenges foster self-belief, motivation, and adaptability.
Civic Responsibility
Young people are encouraged to consider how their career choices can contribute positively to society and their communities.
Social Mobility
By linking school learning to career outcomes, the programme supports participants to visualise and work toward meaningful futures.
Wellbeing Support
Mentors provide space for emotional support, helping participants manage anxiety, stress, and confidence issues related to employment.