G15 to provide free travel bursary for young Londoners to attend Skills London

The G15 has today announced it will provide a travel bursary that can be accessed by London schools and colleges attending Skills London, the UK’s largest free careers fair for 14 – 24-year-olds organised by the business campaign group, BusinessLDN.

The bursary on offer will ensure young Londoners from all backgrounds can attend to kickstart their career choices and find a future that works for them. The G15 has pledged £12,000 in financial support to help young people attend Skills London who might otherwise miss out.

Skills London is free to attend and this additional support ensures that young people from across London can attend despite the cost-of-living crisis. With the capital suffering one of the worst poverty and unemployment rates in the country, the G15 will provide much-needed support that enables those making decisions about their future, school leavers and those looking to find new employment to attend this important event.

During the pandemic, many young people did not have opportunities to experience different careers first-hand or to hear from those who have made these choices before. Skills London, which returns in person for the first time since the pandemic at ExCeL London on 25 and 26 November 2022, has an important part to play in helping to ensure they do not continue to miss out.

Skills London is a chance for attendees to engage with more than 200 employers, colleges and higher education providers, as well as to speak to careers advisers on the day. With a significant mismatch between skills and job vacancies in the economy, this event and others like it are part of addressing the gap.

Geeta Nanda OBE, G15 Chair and Chief Executive of MTVH, said: ​

“Skills London is an essential event that offers a major boost to young people’s career prospects by showing what options are out there and how they can grab them. We really want to see young people from across the city attending, including the young people we provide affordable homes for. Alongside the extensive careers and training support that G15 housing associations provide to residents, we are pleased to be supporting BusinessLDN with the travel bursary and encourage as many people as possible to take it up.”

John Dickie, Chief Executive at BusinessLDN, said: ​

“We are delighted to have the support of the G15 in helping young Londoners access Skills London. This incredible event brings together over 200 employers and more than 50,000 live jobs, training opportunities and apprenticeships, helping young people find their right career.”

To book your free tickets to Skills London – click here.

The travel bursary is payable for groups of 50 or more for students in Year 10 and above within the London Boroughs.

When attending with 50 students or more, schools and other groups receive £1.50 per student for up to 150 students, which can be used to subsidise private coach, minibus hire or to take public transport.

Further details about the bursary can be found here.