Sky and social impact agency, Spectra partnered with Stockport Council to host a careers summit for young people who have left the care system. At the Etihad Stadium on February 7th, 15 young people from Stockport participated in sessions in which they met volunteers from Sky, Microsoft, Mama Youth, City in the Community and Social Communications amongst others to learn about professional qualifications and career paths. The summit was held to provide support and guidance to young people who are considering their futures.

At the Etihad Stadium eight volunteers from Sky worked alongside 10 volunteers from local organisations to run a career carousel in which young people circulated the room asking questions about career experiences and paths to employment.

The summit is part of Sky’s Tech Grants programme, which is targeted to help young people between 18 and 25 to live independently, after leaving the care system. The grants provide free Sky Broadband for 18 months, a technology bundle which includes a laptop and funds events centred around skills, careers and wellbeing. Grants are being awarded to the participating young people from Stockport, while the nationwide programme will also award grants to young people from Dorset and Gateshead.

During the summit, motivational speaker, Anthony Bennett provided a keynote speech in which he told the group about his life changing health experiences.Anthony focused on motivating the young people to overcome challenges and discussed how they should be open to opportunities. Anthony then held a panel discussion with Isobella Cobos, a Sky employee based in Stockport, who was in the care system in Greater Manchester and drew on her experiences to provide guidance and inspiration, showcasing career paths that are viable options for the group.

Sky Up Tech Grants advance Sky’s ambitious goal to tackle digital inequality and provide support to digitally excluded people through a £10 million fund. The programme will support 1000 young people leaving the care system between the ages of 18-25 over the next three years, in partnership with social impact agency, Spectra.

The nationwide programme is also providing grants to young people in Dorset and Gateshead and all 150 participants will be invited to summits in 2023 where careers and wellbeing discussions will be at the heart of the sessions.