“Shaw Trust promotes team spirit, inclusiveness and it is an organisation where everybody is somebody. I am proud to be part of this great organisation.”
At Shaw Trust we believe everyone has the right to live a decent and dignified life and an opportunity for rewarding work. We are a social purpose organisation challenging inequality and breaking down barriers to enable social mobility.
For us being part of the solution is about creating the conditions for this to happen, advocating and delivering services that make a real difference. Working in partnership not competition, we are part of an eco-system of purpose-led organisations, striving for a fairer, more equal society centred on opportunity for all.
Purpose
This is an exciting opportunity to join a high-profile, innovative trial focused on successfully transitioning young adults who are not working due to health into their next steps. The initiative is funded by the Shaw Trust Foundation. You’ll play a key role in evidencing how best to prepare young adults for their future, exploring employment options and improving access to mainstream support services.
This is a highly visible project: the findings will be shared with a senior external advisory group, including expected representation from the DWP, Mayoral Combined Authorities, and Local Authorities.
As a Young Adult Pathways & Progression Specialist, you’ll work intensively with a caseload of up to 25 young people, helping them build motivation, resilience, and readiness for work. You’ll use innovative, community led approaches to engage those who are reluctant or hard-to-reach, building trust and opening up opportunities for skills development, work experience, and onward referral into employment support. A key part of your role will be using Cognitive Behavioural mentoring techniques to help participants challenge unhelpful thought patterns, develop positive coping strategies, and build emotional resilience — ensuring they can stay focused on long‑term goals and overcome setbacks.
This is a community-based role, requiring close collaboration with participants, local partners, and stakeholders. You’ll play a vital part in shaping young people’s journeys, supporting them to overcome barriers, access opportunities, and achieve lasting outcomes in work or education.
We’re looking for someone who is:
- Passionate about youth engagement and employment support.
- Skilled in building trust and relationships with young people and community partners.
- Creative and persistent in finding ways to reach those not currently accessing support.
- Committed to making a real difference in the lives of young people.
This is your chance to be part of an innovative programme that transforms lives through employment, education, and community collaboration.
The selection process will include an initial telephone screening followed by an in‑person assessment centre on 27 February, held in Shepherds Bush.
Please indicate within your supporting statement whether you would prefer to work within Brent or Ealing.
Download the Job Description for full details.
Location:
You will be based in West London (Ealing & Brent)
Employee Benefits
As an employee of Shaw Trust as well as positively impacting people’s lives, you will have access to the following benefits:
- 25 days annual leave per year (plus bank holidays), with incremental increases post 3 years’ service up to 28 days, and the option to purchase additional holiday
- 2 days paid volunteering leave each year
- An enhanced pension scheme after 6 months
- Life Assurance at 3 times your annual salary rate
- Access to a suite of learning and development opportunities including paid for apprenticeship and masters’ levels qualifications, and management development programmes
- Opportunities to connect with our employee diversity networks (LGBTQ+ Support Network, Racial Equality Network, Disability Equality Network, Neurodiversity Peer Support Network, Women’s Network, MANaging Network, Menopause Network Group)
- Health and Wellbeing initiatives including internal support, employee assistance programme and health cash plan
- Opportunity to request flexible working from day one
Our Strategy
To find out more about Shaw Trusts aims in our 2030 Strategic Directive available here: Vision-2030-Strategic-Directive-5-9.pdf
Join a diverse and inclusive organisation
Shaw Trust is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment, where every employee, regardless of their background or lived experience, feels that they belong and can progress in their career.
In addition;
- We are proud to be certified as an employer who meets the National Equality Standard, the accepted standard for inclusiveness in business across the UK.
- We are Disability Confident Leaders, support the guaranteed interview scheme and use of the government’s Access to Work scheme.
- Living our values, we are keen to reflect the diversity of UK society at every level within our organisation.
We welcome applications from all sections of the community including from people with lived experience and/or knowledge of disability or social exclusion.
If you have accessibility requirements and/or would like further information about the role, please contact: Resourcing@shaw-trust.org.uk
Shaw Trust reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received.