THE Cheshire and Warrington Careers Hub is one of 10 areas across England to be awarded funding through the £2.3 million Future Ready Fund, a three-year programme designed to close the career readiness gap through high-quality, modern work experience.
More than 400 students from 25-plus local schools will engage in a modern work experience programme, shaping aspirations and building skills that will prepare them for a successful career in Cheshire and Warrington.
Participating students will receive support for three years, from Year 8 until the end of Year 10.
Funded activities will include interactive employer-led workshops, workplace visits, and multiple high-quality work experience placements to develop essential skills and show what careers are on offer in the region.
The programme will involve employers ranging from AstraZeneca, the Bank of America, United Utilities and Bentley to SMEs, including Altimex and Driveworks.
This project has support from all three local authorities – Warrington, Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester – and is being delivered as part of their wider strategic collaborative work to prevent young people becoming NEET (not in education, employment and training) and build a more inclusive future workforce for the subregion.
To kickstart this programme, three launch events will be held at local venues in March 2026: Alderley Park, Birchwood, and Chester Zoo. Each event brings together 180-plus students from 10-plus schools, as well as teachers, local employers and VIP guests.
The Future Ready Fund is delivered by The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC), the national body for careers education in England and supported by JPMorganChase.
It comes at a critical time, with youth unemployment at nearly 1 million nationally and employers reporting growing skills gaps.
Cllr Karen Shore, the member of the Cheshire and Warrington Shadow Board responsible for Skills, Health and Inclusion, said: “We are thrilled to be part of the Future Ready Fund which will help us on our journey for Cheshire and Warrington to be the UK’s healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive, and fastest-growing region by 2045.
“Trailblazing programmes like this are our commitment to ensure no young person gets left behind, as we proudly secure the region’s prosperity for the next generation.”
CEC will publish impact reports in the coming years, with a final report in 2030, bringing together participant destination data and best practice, and sharing insights into what works to deliver high-quality, modern work experience for disadvantaged young people.
To find out more about the programme in Cheshire and Warrington, visit the website: https://cheshireandwarrington.com/growth-and-skills/skills-and-education/careers-hub/the-cheshire-and-warrington-future-ready-work-experience-programme/.
