Coventry Forms New Partnership with Slenky to Transform Youth Employment Opportunities

PICTURE CAPTION: Credit - George Phillott from Gamal George Design and Photography

Regional leaders joined together in Coventry to mark the launch of a new partnership in the city that will transform how young people connect with employment and development opportunities.

Late Lunch #1: Regional Leadership for Digital Youth Engagement is the first in a new series of events which aim to bring together local authority partners, businesses and education providers to reshape how the region showcases opportunities to young people.

The event saw the launch of Coventry City Council’s new partnership with Slenky, a digital platform that connects young people with real-world opportunities matched to their passions and ambitions.

The event was held at Coventry Building Society Arena and hosted by Cec Richards, the founder of Slenky.

It feature a panel of high-profile speakers including major businesses backing Slenky, individuals that have been supported in their growth by the platform and football legend and supporter of Slenky Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Slenky gives ‘shots’ to young people which can help them to gain vital experience to kickstart their career. It provides a scalable, mobile-first solution for councils and employers to engage with current and future generations.

Cec Richards said: “We all recognise the value of opportunity and taking your shot, that is something everyone on the panel today has been able to do to get where we are today. We need those opportunities to continue reach young people. Let’s take the Midlands forward through this partnership.”

Dr Julie Nugent, Chief Executive of Coventry City Council, added: “We have to make sure opportunities aren’t just about luck. The world of work is changing so rapidly, careers guidance is outdated and we need to build on how we connect with the next generation.

“We must tap into new technologies in a way that is meaningful. We are hopeful that through Slenky we will be able to do that and make sure that young people in Coventry are getting the opportunities they deserve.”

The event was supported by Arcadis, Cue Media, Cubet, Business in the Community, B.E.SS and Severn Trent.

Speakers shared their personal stories of opportunities and ‘shots’ they were given that changed the trajectory of their careers and lives – with reflections on how new approaches and methods of communication are needed to ensure those opportunities continue to reach ambitious young people.

Darren Clarke, Senior Partner at Arcadis, shared his experiences of working with Slenky since 2013 and why Arcadis has backed the introduction of the platform. He said: “My role now is to mentor people to be the best that they can be. The platform creates excitement and energy with young people.

"My ask is for businesses and local authorities to take their shot, get involved and help us to build momentum for this platform across the area."

Other speakers included Major Mitch Mitchell CB CBE who shared his journey from a challenging start to life to a leadership role in the armed forces.

He said: “I’m only here because someone gave me an opportunity. We need drive and passion from young people, but we also need to talk to them in the right way.”

Sunjay Kohli, CEO of AAA Media, discussed how his trajectory changed after taking his shot through Slenky. The ‘shot’ gave him the chance to start a career in the music industry, resulting in launching his own artist, creator and brand services agency.

"This has been a huge part of my career and one boy's dream. I'd urge anyone with the keys or the desire to create opportunities to do so, because you never know the impact you might have one someone's life,” said Sunjay.

The three late lunch events at Coventry Building Society Arena will culminate in a major digital careers fair at the venue next year.

Paul Michael, Managing Director of Coventry Building Society Arena, said: “People are one of the core pillars of our business and we’re consistently looking for new ways to engage with young people.

“It was fantastic to have so many leaders and decision-makers in the room to help drive the conversation in Coventry. We’re proud to be partnering with Slenky and Coventry City Council on this initiative.”

To find out more about Slenky visit https://www.slenky.com./