Now more than ever, young people need support from professionals like you.
The subject of the 2025 Haberdashers’ Futures Careers Conference was ‘Careers for 2030’, intentionally chosen to respond to the changing nature of the world of work and to support students to be adequately prepared.
The need for this was proven by students who attended, 68% of whom told us they were concerned about the impact of new technology on the job market before attending the event. Similarly, fewer than 25% of Habs Aspire (the Haberdashers’ Company mentoring programme for Sixth Form students) mentees surveyed knew their options if their next steps do not go according to plan.
This is unsurprising in a context where year-on-year recruitment fell by 14.6%, with 47% of the UK’s top employers reducing their annual intake (The Graduate Market in 2025). The annual youth voice census from Youth Employment UK describes how just 25% believe that employers are supportive of hiring young people, and 4 in 10 don’t believe they have the qualifications to get a job. Whilst the average student is unlikely to be flicking through published reports (although never underestimate a tenacious Haberdasher pupil!), a negative view of the job market and future prospects is also reflected in social media and mainstream news. This builds a picture where young people are bombarded with negative messaging when seeking out information about their future.
Why does this matter?
At Haberdashers’ our purpose is ‘empowering young people from every background to fulfil their potential’. We want to ensure that young people have real choices, and access to good information, to help them consider the best path for them when they leave school. This is not about one single benchmark of success, but each child having the support they need to prepare for life beyond school and access to fulfilling work and education opportunities. It matters to us because achieving our purpose is impossible without addressing these challenges and ensuring young people are equipped for the world of work.
How can you help? – become a mentor
Habs Aspire exists to connect students with mentors who help them navigate a challenging employment market, without losing confidence in their potential. The data shows a clear disconnect between aspiration and access: young people want to succeed, but many lack the everyday contact with professionals and role models. A structured mentoring relationship provides honest career insight, and the confidence that comes from being taken seriously by someone outside of school. It doesn’t take a huge time commitment (just four hours a year), and you don’t need a background in education – just your own experience and a willingness to listen. If you’ve ever benefited from someone giving you five minutes of honest advice at the right moment in your career, this is the chance to be that person for a young person who needs it. Sign up to become a Habs Aspire mentor, and help achieve the Company purpose to empower young people from all backgrounds to achieve their potential.
