Southwark Education Business Alliance

What Southwark Education Business Alliance does

Southwark Education Business Alliance (EBA) is a school-business partnership organization operating as a traded service within Southwark Council, the local government authority for the London Borough of Southwark. Founded in 2005 and headquartered at 160 Tooley Street, London, the EBA brokers relationships between local schools and businesses to deliver career education, work-related learning, and skill-development programs aligned with the UK Government's Gatsby Benchmarks. Its core team of four (Head of Service, Business Links Officer, Scholarship Lead, Work Experience Coordinator) coordinates a portfolio of nine programs: mentoring (primary reading partners and secondary mentoring), business visits, work experience placement administration, the annual Southwark Careers Fair, the Young Enterprise competition culminating in a Borough Market pop-up, financial literacy and personal development workshops, and the Southwark Scholarship Scheme (launched 2011) supporting university tuition for eligible students.

The EBA serves two customer segments: schools seeking to meet statutory careers guidance requirements, and businesses seeking structured CSR volunteering, talent pipeline access, and community engagement. It works with 20+ corporate partners including JP Morgan, Norton Rose Fulbright, PwC, EY, Morgan Stanley, Gowling WLG, Boodle Hatfield, OCS, Mindshare, and infrastructure projects such as Thames Tideway and the Northern Line Extension, alongside institutional partners Southwark Council and More London. Programs are delivered through events, ongoing volunteer coordination, and field-based engagement; the organization operates on annual membership and program-service fees supplemented by council funding, with pricing not publicly disclosed.

Name

Southwark Education Business Alliance

Legal name

Southwark Education Business Alliance

Website

https://southwarkeba.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Southwark Education Business Alliance (EBA) is a Southwark Council traded service that brokers relationships between Southwark schools and businesses, delivering career education, work experience, mentoring, enterprise competitions, and scholarships aligned with UK Gatsby Benchmarks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education-Business Partnership Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Internships, Externships & Work-Based Learning Placement (EDAMAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Learning, Training & Corporate Education Consulting (BPAHAGAE)

Keywords

• Education-business partnerships
• Career guidance programmes
• Work experience coordination
• Student mentoring services
• School employer engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

London, England

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership and Traded Services: The EBA operates as a traded service within Southwark Council, offering membership options to businesses and schools. They charge membership fees to corporate partners seeking to engage with local schools through volunteering and workforce development programs. Revenue is generated through annual membership subscriptions that provide access to their school-business connection programs, volunteer coordination, and career event participation.
2. Program Delivery Services: The EBA provides fee-based program delivery services to schools, helping them meet Gatsby Benchmarks requirements for career education. Schools pay for access to structured work experience administration, mentoring coordination, business visit organization, and workshop delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Southwark Education Business Alliance operates as a Southwark Council traded service that brokers relationships among schools, employers, and young people in Southwark. It delivers career education and work-related learning through mentoring, business visits, work-experience coordination, careers fairs, enterprise competitions, workshops, and scholarship support.

Product overview

Southwark Education Business Alliance (EBA) is an education-business partnership organisation offering a portfolio of career development programmes that connect schools with businesses. The offering consists of nine core programmes: Mentoring (primary reading partners and secondary mentoring), Business Visits, Work Experience coordination, Careers Fair, Young Enterprise competition, Financial Literacy Workshops, Jobs vs Careers Workshop, Southwark Scholarship Scheme, and Primary Readers Programme. These programmes are designed to help young people understand the world of work, develop employability skills, and pursue higher education. The EBA operates as a traded service with membership options and is aligned with the UK Government's Gatsby Benchmarks for career guidance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mentoring Programme A programme that pairs individual students with professional mentors for career guidance and support with studies and the world of work, including primary-school reading partners and secondary-school subject mentoring.
• Business Visits Organised visits for students to business partners' offices or workplaces, with talks and tours that provide insight into professional environments and career pathways; bookings require eight weeks of advance notice.
• Work Experience (WEX) A coordination service for schools and employers that manages work-experience placements, paperwork, and parental evening support, and uses the All-Together WEX online system for work experience administration.
• Southwark Careers Fair A one-day, workshop-based event that connects students with employers through industry-specific sessions, appropriate for Year 10 students and above.
• Young Enterprise A Year 9 enterprise competition in which student teams develop business plans, design sustainable products, pitch to judges, and sell products at Borough Market.
• Financial Literacy Workshops Fifty-minute workshops for sixth-form students covering saving, budgeting, debt management, and preparation for financial independence in higher education or employment.
• Jobs vs Careers Workshop A two-hour personal-development workshop for Year 9 students focused on identifying strengths and exploring suitable career options through individual engagement.
• Southwark Scholarship Scheme A university scholarship programme for young people from Southwark whose household income is below £32,300 and who have demonstrated community involvement; it covers university tuition fees and includes mentoring, community networking, and graduate career support.
• Primary Readers Programme A primary-school reading programme in which business volunteers spend 30 minutes per week working with pupils to improve their reading skills and confidence.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 students supported with university scholarships covering tuition fees since 2011
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Southwark CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthwark Council is the parent organization providing institutional support and funding for the EBA. The EBA operates as part of Southwark Council's services, helping achieve the council's objectives for youth employment and career education. Strategic partnership involves shared goals for preparing young people for the workforce.
• More LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMore London is a strategic partner helping plan and deliver EBA programs. Partnership provides access to professional venues, business networks, and additional resources for career education initiatives.
• Boodle Hatfield LLPsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational law firm participating in EBA careers events and providing volunteer support for student programs. Firm contributes to Young Enterprise judging panels and careers fair activities.
• BristowssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw firm partner providing volunteer judges and employer representatives for EBA programs including careers fairs and enterprise competitions.
• City of LondonsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Young Enterprise 2024 program, providing business volunteers to support student enterprise education and competition judging.
• Ernst & Young (EY)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal professional services firm participating as business partner, providing industry insights and career guidance to Southwark students through EBA programs.
• Gowling WLGsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational law firm running year-long mentoring programme with Compass School students. Provides volunteers, office tours, and career guidance sessions for soft-skills development.
• HFWsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal law firm participating as business partner in EBA programs, providing volunteer support and career education activities.
• InformasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerKnowledge and events company supporting Young Enterprise program in 2024 with volunteers helping students develop business skills.
• Morgan StanleysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services firm listed as valued business partner providing career education and employment insights to Southwark students.
• Norton Rose FulbrightsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational law firm offering Scholars Bursary Programme with £5,000 bursary, guaranteed vacation scheme assessment centre placement, mentoring, and skills workshops for first and second-year university students facing socio-economic barriers.
• OfcomsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRegulatory body hosting business visits for students from St Thomas the Apostle, delivering Schools Outreach programme with internship and apprenticeship information.
• ProtivitisupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal consulting firm listed as business partner contributing to EBA career programs and student engagement activities.
• PwCsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional services firm listed as business partner providing career guidance and industry insights to Southwark students.
• WavemakersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia agency contributing volunteers to primary reading program, supporting literacy development through weekly reading sessions with students.
• WBDsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw firm partner providing business volunteers for EBA programs and student career engagement activities.
• OCSsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFacilities management company partnering on Young Enterprise and work experience programs. Hosted Dragon's Den style pitching day and provided work experience at Imperial War Museum combining hospitality and engineering activities.
• Borough MarketsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHistoric food market providing venue for Young Enterprise students to sell their products, giving real-world retail experience to Southwark students.
• JP MorgansupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal financial services firm participating in Careers Fair 2025, providing career insights and industry knowledge to over 200 Southwark students.
• Mindshare UKsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia agency participating in Careers Fair 2025, engaging students with career opportunities in the marketing and media industry.
• Rock TownsendsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerDesign agency supporting Young Enterprise 2024 program with volunteers helping students develop business confidence and entrepreneurship skills.
• Northern TrustsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services firm listed as business partner contributing to EBA career programs for Southwark students.
• Northern Line ExtensionsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerInfrastructure project listed as business partner, providing career insights into construction and engineering sectors.
• Thames Tideway TunnelsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor infrastructure project listed as business partner offering insights into construction and engineering career paths.
• FooditudesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFood services company listed as business partner contributing to EBA programs and career education activities.
• Global GenerationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCharitable organization supporting EBA programs with focus on youth development and sustainable business practices.
• Tower BridgesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerIconic London landmark providing career insights and hosting business visits for Southwark students.
• Metropolitan PolicesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPolice service providing career education and insights into public service careers for Southwark students.
• GLA (Greater London Authority)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLondon's regional government body supporting EBA initiatives and career programs for young Londoners.
• House of CommonssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerUK Parliament providing insights into political careers and public service through EBA programs.
• Potter RapersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerConsultancy firm listed as business partner contributing to EBA career education programs.
• Womble Bond DickinsonsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw firm delivered financial literacy workshops to Year 12 and 13 students from St Martin in the Fields, covering topics including budgeting, debt management, credit cards, and bank accounts.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Direct peers

• Speakers for Schools: UK charity providing free talks and work-experience opportunities from professionals to state school students. Closely comparable offering to EBA's business visits and careers fair.
• The Brokerage: London-based charity focused on connecting students with professional careers through school-based volunteering and mentoring — directly comparable to EBA in mission, geography and delivery model.
• Social Mobility Foundation: UK charity supporting high-potential students from lower-income backgrounds through internships, mentoring and university support — overlaps directly with EBA's Scholarship Scheme and bursary programs.
• Young Enterprise UK: National charity running enterprise and entrepreneurship programs in UK schools. EBA's Young Enterprise program is a local adaptation of this national model.
• Career Ready: UK charity providing structured work experience, mentoring and masterclasses for students from lower-income backgrounds — directly comparable to EBA's WEX, mentoring and careers programming.
• Education and Employers (Inspiring the Future): UK charity running Inspiring the Future, which connects state school students with employee volunteers for career insight — directly comparable to EBA's mentoring and business visits programs.
• The Careers & Enterprise Company: UK government-funded national organization that brokers employer-school connections and funds local programs. Operates as a direct national analogue of what EBA does at the borough level.

Broad incumbents

• CBI (Confederation of British Industry): UK's largest business membership organization with significant education and skills policy/program work, including employer-school engagement initiatives. Overlaps with EBA's business-partner brokering role at scale.
• The Prince's Trust: Major UK youth charity with overlapping education, employability and enterprise programs. Much larger in scale and scope than EBA but addresses the same youth-employment development need.
• London First: London business membership organization that runs skills and education initiatives, including employer-school engagement. Broader remit than EBA but overlapping corporate-education broker role.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/education-business-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Southwark Education Business Alliance