Employer training 'manager as mentor' grant
Applications open: 28th August 2025
Applications close: 19th September 2025
About this grant
This grant is for organisations that can deliver a training programme to equip local businesses with the skills, knowledge, and tools to effectively support and retain disadvantaged young people aged 17-21, including care experienced young people, in the workplace.
It is part of the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer national programme, designed to support young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) into employment.
The funding allocated to this grant is designed to engage and support young people across all Liverpool neighbourhood areas.
Who can apply?
Any organisation that is able to deliver the required service, within the required delivery timescales of October 2025 to 31st March 2026, can apply.
We are seeking to engage a delivery organisation with proven expertise in training, mentoring, and supporting disadvantaged young people to deliver a bespoke 'Managers as Mentors' training programme for employers across the Liverpool City Region.
The suitably skilled and experienced delivery organisation will deliver a training programme to equip local businesses with the skills, knowledge, and tools to effectively support and retain vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in the workplace. This will support young people in all Liverpool City Region.
This purpose of this funding is to:
- deliver a comprehensive training programme to employer representatives e.g. line managers, supervisors, HR staff
- support employers to develop inclusive practices and policies that respond to the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged young people, including care experienced young people
- develop employers’ understanding of the challenges faced by care leavers and how to apply a trauma-informed, flexible, and person-centred approach to management and mentoring
- provide follow-up support and coaching to employers to embed learning and improve outcomes for young people
- contribute to the development of a regional network of employer mentors committed to supporting care leavers.
This activity contributes to the emerging Business Charter for Care Experienced Young People and to improving the opportunities for sustained employment for young people who face multiple barriers.
This employer training will contribute to supporting young people progressing from Trailblazer and other council support into the workplace, by equipping managers and mentors to provide tailored mentoring. Relevant employers will be identified through the Ways to Work team and close working with the council services and Trailblazer providers.
How much money is being awarded?
£50,000 is available for one successful delivery organisation.
This is the maximum allocation, and delivery organisations who respond to this service offer must confirm they can meet the needs of this service within this budget and timelines aligning to all the outcomes within the contract.
The outcomes each organisation must deliver during the programme are:
- 30 employers supported to mentor disadvantaged young people
- 60 managers supported to mentor young people
How to apply
Please complete the request for an application pack form below, indicating which grants you are interested in applying for. We will then email the full application pack to you.
Applications must be submitted closing date 12 noon on 19th September 2025.
Request an application pack now
Further information
Please email youthtrailblazer@liverpool.gov.uk for further information.