A new initiative has been launched to help disadvantaged young people in Oxfordshire access employment opportunities.
Oxfordshire Youth has unveiled its Business Guardians programme, which has already attracted the support of industry leaders such as the BMW Mini Plant, Blenheim Palace, and David Lloyd Oxford.
The programme aims to address the stark contrast in Oxfordshire, where one in six children live in poverty despite the county’s status as a hub of innovation.
Youth unemployment in areas such as Banbury, Barton, and Blackbird Leys remains above the national average
The Business Guardians programme aims to provide long-term solutions to these issues by committing to multi-year core funding and creating tailored employability opportunities for young people facing barriers to employment.
The initiative also encourages corporate employees to take on trustee positions within grassroots organisations, further strengthening the support network for young people.
Jodie Lloyd-Jones, CEO at Oxfordshire Youth, said: “Oxfordshire’s young people are bursting with creativity, potential, and resilience.
“But they need more than just support, they need equitable access to opportunities that unlock and nurture their potential, that see them beyond any labels given to them or limitations.
“The Business Guardians programme recognises that transformative change requires collective action.
“It’s a call for businesses to act boldly, to invest in a generation that will shape our shared future.”
The programme also includes a mentoring scheme, where CEOs from the coalition of businesses will provide guidance to young people who have faced particular adversities such as the care system or homelessness.
This approach aims to build social capital for young people from underprivileged backgrounds, creating sustainable pathways for them to develop the skills, connections, and support needed to thrive in, and shape, workplaces in the future.
The Business Guardians will collaborate with Oxfordshire Youth over the next three years to unlock employability opportunities for young people facing multiple barriers to work, including access to apprenticeship pathways, work placements, employability workshops, and mentorship.
They will also invest in multi-year core funding, thereby releasing critical resources to enhance Oxfordshire Youth’s impact.
Early results from the pilot phase have already demonstrated significant benefits for participating organisations, including measurable improvements in staff morale, confidence, and team cohesion.
Emmy O’Shaughnessy, director of innovation and growth and deputy CEO at Oxfordshire Youth, said: “We’re not just asking businesses to write cheques.
“We’re inviting them to become architects of a more equitable future where every young person in Oxfordshire can belong, contribute, and lead.
“This is about creating a legacy that will outlast all of us, one that transforms what it means to be a responsible business in the 21st century.”
