Youth Justice Service visit KPMG offices as part of employment initiative

Last week, Birmingham Children's Trust's Youth Justice service visited the offices of KPMG Birmingham as part of their ‘Opening Doors to Opportunities’ initiative, which has created valuable opportunities for our young people to experience a professional working environment. 

Through this collaboration the Youth Justice Service and KPMG aim to raise aspirations, broaden outlooks, and help them to see pathways that may not have previously felt accessible.

Michael Olajide, one of our Youth Justice Officers who has developed this partnership, said: "Being welcomed into professional environments helps our young people recognise their own potential and can be a meaningful turning point in their journey.

“We’ve already seen the impact these programmes can have. Young people who take part consistently show increased confidence, stronger aspirations, and a clearer sense of direction about their futures. It’s these meaningful experiences that help them recognise their potential and make steps toward lasting change.”

Andrew Bostock, Birmingham Office Senior Partner at KPMG UK, added: “Opening Doors to Opportunities is central to our commitment to improving social mobility. Meeting the young people from Birmingham Youth Justice Service and hearing their stories firsthand was incredibly inspiring. By welcoming them into our office, we wanted to show them what’s possible and help build confidence in their own potential.

“We believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. That’s why we’re focused on creating meaningful experiences that broaden horizons and build skills. I’m proud we can help open doors and support young people across our region as they take their next steps toward a brighter future."

This is the Youth Justice Service's second visit to KPMG, with the first taking place in October last year. The day featured an office tour, opportunities to observe different departments, and interactive group sessions designed to develop skills such as teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving. There was also a young person from October's visit who returned as a peer mentor for the new group. Long may this brilliant partnership continue.