Manchester, 17th September 2026 — The Aldridge Foundation and leading independent law firm Brabners, today announce a major new partnership involving Brabners’ True North network to tackle one of the most urgent challenges facing young people: the gap between education and employment.

This partnership will create a pathway connecting young people in schools and colleges with employers, giving them greater access to the skills, experiences, relationships, and opportunities they need to move successfully into further education, apprenticeships, or employment.

At its heart is a simple ambition: to demonstrate what can be achieved when education and business work together systematically — and ultimately create an approach capable of being replicated more widely.

This partnership comes at a critical time, with the recent work led by Alan Milburn highlighting the scale of the challenge facing young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), and the economic and social consequences of allowing a generation to become disconnected from opportunity.

To address this, the Aldridge Foundation and Brabners believe the answer must begin much earlier. Rather than waiting until young people have left education to address the barriers they face in finding work, the new partnership will bring schools and businesses closer together while young people are still in education.

Sir Rod Aldridge, Founder and Chair of the Aldridge Foundation, said:

“We must tackle the NEET challenge before a young person becomes NEET. Too many young people are leaving education without the experience, contacts or understanding of the workplace that can help turn their talent into opportunity. The first door is often the hardest to open. Some young people already know the person on the other side of that door; however, many of the young people we work with don’t have the advantage of personal connections into the world of work. We are therefore asking businesses to open their doors – but just as importantly, to open their networks.

“Our ambition is that every young person should leave education with skills, meaningful experience of work and a professional network. Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not. This partnership is about changing that.”

Robert White, CEO of Brabners said: 

“Our True North network brings together over 650 purpose led businesses and is perfectly placed to create opportunities for talented young people across the region.  Our mission is to Make the Difference. If we can connect schools, academies and FE colleges with our own firm and the businesses we work with, together we can shape the future workforce and make a lasting impact on the lives of young people. 

“We are proud to work alongside the Aldridge Foundation whose work has transformed the lives of thousands of young people. By bringing together education and business, we have an opportunity to build on this and we look forward to seeing what we can achieve together.”

The partnership will initially work with Aldridge MAT schools based in Blackburn with Darwen, along with the University Technical Colleges in Salford and Warrington, drawing on the reach and expertise of Brabners’ True North network.

It will create a pathway connecting young people to employers through mentoring and Industry Advocates, workplace experiences, careers and interview support, technical education and T Level placements, apprenticeships and employment opportunities. It will also enable the Aldridge Foundation to accelerate its highly successful Next Steps Bursary programme, which supports young people both financially and through mentoring at the critical transition point from education to the next stage of their journey towards work.

Crucially, businesses will be asked to become active participants rather than simply supporters — opening their organisations to young people, sharing expertise, providing mentoring and experience, and creating routes into apprenticeships and employment.

Brabners established True North to bring together like-minded organisations from across the North to share knowledge, connect and collaborate, and to help unlock the economic potential of the region. From its outset, a central focus of the network has been harnessing talent and developing the skills needed for the future by connecting people with the opportunities Northern businesses can provide.

This new partnership will put that ambition into practice by connecting the True North business network directly with young people in schools and colleges, creating opportunities to develop skills, experience and relationships that can support their transition into work.

The launch of this partnership also comes as the Aldridge Foundation celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Sir Rod Aldridge added:

“For 20 years, our belief has been that where you come from should not determine where you are going.

“The transition from education into work is now one of the biggest barriers to making that belief a reality.

“We cannot wait until young people become NEET and then try to reconnect them. We need to build the pathway before they leave education.”

To register your interest in working with the partnership, please visit https://hub.brabners.com/aldridge

About the Aldridge Foundation

The Aldridge Foundation was established in 2006 to create opportunities for young people, particularly those from communities where access to opportunity and professional networks can be limited. Its work includes education, employability, the Next Steps Bursary programme, together with a focus on enrichment involving sport and creative opportunities.

About Brabners and True North

Brabners is a leading independent law firm with a strong presence across the North of England. It’s True North network brings together organisations and business leaders committed to the economic and social prosperity of the North.