Name

Think Forward

Legal name

ThinkForward (UK)

Website

https://thinkforward.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Employability and Coaching Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL), Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Youth employability coaching
• NEET prevention programmes
• School coaching partnerships
• Inclusive workforce preparation
• Career readiness training

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Grants: ThinkForward is a registered charity (no. 1152862) that operates entirely on charitable donations, grants, and funding from corporates and trusts. The organisation does not charge young people for programme participation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ThinkForward is a registered charity that delivers long-term one-to-one coaching, employability skills development, and workplace exposure programmes for young people facing barriers to education and employment. Services are delivered free of charge through partnerships with schools and community organisations across London, Kent, Nottingham, and the West Midlands, and are organised as named programmes (FutureMe, Work Forward, Future Leaders, Making Strides, She Speaks) targeted at distinct cohorts including NEET young people, Black students at risk of exclusion, young adults with learning disabilities or autism, and young women.

Product overview

ThinkForward is a UK-based charity offering a portfolio of coaching programmes designed to prepare young people for the world of work. The core offering consists of five interconnected programmes: FutureMe (flagship programme for young people facing challenges), Work Forward (support for NEET young people), Future Leaders (for Black students at risk of exclusion), Making Strides (for young adults with learning disabilities/autism), and She Speaks (for young women). All programmes provide one-to-one coaching, group sessions, and workplace exposure to develop employability skills and facilitate transitions into education, employment, or training. The Young and Black initiative complements these by addressing racial equity through creative expression.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FutureMe Flagship long-term one-to-one coaching programme for young people who face challenges on their path to success; develops key life and work skills (resilience, drive, communication), provides workplace exposure (skills workshops, workplace tours, work experience, mentoring), and helps participants identify and secure pathways into education, employment or training. Delivered free of charge to young people referred through ThinkForward's school and community partnerships.
• Work Forward Programme supporting young people who are currently NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) to transition into work, delivered through a specialist Progression Coach providing one-to-one coaching sessions, group workshops, and direct employer connections. Free to participants and accessed through community partner referrals rather than parental self-referrals.
• Future Leaders Programme working with Black students in London who have been excluded or are at risk of being excluded from mainstream school, providing coaching, workplace visits, and mentoring from professionals from similar backgrounds. Phase Two of the programme commenced in West London in 2024.
• Making Strides Programme supporting young adults with learning disabilities and/or autism to transition into sustainable paid employment, including working with employers to provide accessible employment opportunities. Launched in London, Birmingham and Sandwell in 2024 with support from partner DFN-MoveForward.
• She Speaks Project supporting young women to develop employability action plans and gain skills to achieve their goals via one-to-one coaching from a female coach, gender-based group coaching, peer mentoring, and creative workshops on issues women can face, leading to creative outputs campaigning for change. Funded in part by City Bridge Foundation (2024).
• Young and Black Project bringing together artworks created by young people on ThinkForward's FutureMe programme (and DFN-MoveForward) to explore and challenge issues around race, identity and equity, resulting in a published book and digital exhibition. Run alongside UK Youth's Young and Black campaign with support from Citi.

Quantifiable outcome

• 81% of 2025 graduates are in education, employment or training

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 7PKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ThinkForward partnered with 7PK for staff learning sessions covering the history of racism in the UK, language in relation to equality, equity and justice, courageous conversations about race, and taking responsibility for actions as part of their race equity journey.
• CiticoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Citi supported the Young and Black project as part of their own racial equity, diversity and inclusion work. The project brought together young people on FutureMe and DFN-MoveForward programmes to explore issues around race, identity and equity through creative workshops and artwork.
• UK YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021ThinkForward's Young and Black project was run alongside UK Youth's Young and Black campaign, launched following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. The partnership created a collaborative approach to addressing racial equity issues affecting young people.
• Business Partners (Corporate)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusinesses partner with ThinkForward to deliver workplace opportunities for young people including skills workshops, workplace tours, work experience, and long-term mentoring programmes. These partnerships provide real-world exposure to the world of work.
• DFN-MoveForwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting the Making Strides programme for young adults with learning disabilities and autism. ThinkForward adapted their FutureMe programme to support this demographic transition into sustainable paid employment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Prince's Trust: The Prince's Trust is the largest UK youth charity, supporting 13-30 year olds into education, employment and training through programmes like Enterprise and Team. Directly comparable as a UK-focused youth employment charity with broader national reach and significantly larger scale than ThinkForward.
• Catch22: Catch22 is a UK social business supporting young people at risk of exclusion through education, employability and justice services. Comparable target population and outcomes focus, though much larger scope across social services beyond youth employment alone.
• UK Youth: UK Youth is a national umbrella body supporting youth organisations and running the Young and Black campaign alongside ThinkForward. Comparable youth-development focus and EDI-led programming, with ThinkForward's Young and Black project running in partnership with UK Youth's campaign.
• Shaw Trust: Shaw Trust is a UK charity supporting disabled and disadvantaged people into employment and independent living, including through disability employment programmes. Comparable focus on supporting people with disabilities and learning differences into work - similar to ThinkForward's Making Strides programme.

Direct peers

• DFN-MoveForward: DFN-MoveForward is a UK charity focused on moving young people with learning disabilities and autism into employment - directly comparable through its partnership with ThinkForward on the Making Strides programme. Same target demographic (NEET youth with additional needs) and overlapping employer partnership model.
• Tomorrow's People: UK charity helping disadvantaged young people and adults into sustainable employment through coaching, training and employer engagement. Closely comparable mission, target cohort (NEET youth), and one-to-one support model to ThinkForward's FutureMe and Work Forward programmes.
• Resurgo: Resurgo runs the Spear programme coaching disadvantaged 16-24 year olds into employment, plus genetic employability programmes. Directly comparable long-term coaching model, target demographic (NEET youth), and employer engagement approach to ThinkForward's FutureMe programme.
• Drive Forward Foundation: Drive Forward Foundation supports care-experienced young people into sustained employment through coaching, work experience and employer engagement. Comparable one-to-one coaching model and NEET-prevention focus for vulnerable young people transitioning to work.

Emerging players

• Movement to Work: Movement to Work is a UK coalition of employers providing work experience and employment opportunities to disadvantaged young people. Comparable employer-engagement model and NEET-target demographic, but operates as a coalition/platform rather than direct service provider.
• Speakers for Schools: UK charity providing state school students with access to workplace experiences, employer talks and work placements. Comparable focus on workplace exposure for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly through its Experience programme and Insights virtual sessions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thinkforwarduk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ThinkForwardUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/9220877
• Instagraminstagram.com/thinkforwarduk
• TikToktiktok.com/@thinkforwarduk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Think Forward