Aleto Foundation

What Aleto Foundation does

The Aleto Foundation is a UK-registered charity founded in 2011 (with website messaging referencing 15 years of impact from a 2010 origin) by Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE — the first British-born Black Director of a FTSE-100 company — alongside a group of British people of colour, growing out of the Powerlist recognising influential UK leaders of African and Caribbean heritage. It is headquartered in Leatherhead, Surrey, and operates with a small team structured around dedicated Heads of Operations, Marketing, Programme Delivery, Alumni Engagement, Impact & Reporting, and Corporate Partnerships under Chief Executive David Villa-Clarke BEM.

The foundation delivers a portfolio of free, fully-funded leadership programmes, mentoring, and bespoke employer partnerships for 19-25 year-olds from under-represented backgrounds — specifically ethnic minority youth, those from low socio-economic backgrounds, women and gender-diverse individuals, and young people more broadly. Core offerings include the multi-day flagship Leadership Programme, a nine-month one-to-one Mentoring Programme exclusive to alumni, the Bespoke Programme (industry-specific variants), the annual Summer Leadership Programme hosted with dmg media, the Mako Insight Day with Mako Trading, and the Black Leadership Academy with OVO Energy; a 2025 university outreach initiative called Stand Out & Get Selected extends recruitment to SOAS, London South Bank University, and the University of Bristol.

The business model is a non-profit, donation-and-partnership hybrid. All programmes are free to participants; funding is sourced from corporate partnerships — BT (since 2019), OVO Energy (2023-2025), Aston Martin Aramco F1 (since 2023), dmg media, Mako Trading (since 2024), Johnson & Johnson, Salesforce, SThree, Avanade, and Daily Mail & General Trust — and from individual donations channelled through a JustGiving campaign with tiered asks of £15, £150, and £500. The foundation operates a single UK domestic market, does not sell directly to individuals, and reports no external investment or parent company. To date it has supported more than 1,500 young leaders, facilitated over 300 mentoring relationships, and reports 60% female representation across programmes with 80% of participants progressing to leadership roles.

Name

Aleto Foundation

Legal name

Aleto Foundation

Website

https://aletofoundation.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aleto Foundation is a UK charity that designs and delivers free leadership programmes, mentoring, and bespoke employer partnerships for 19-25 year-olds from ethnic minority, low socio-economic, and other under-represented backgrounds, funded by corporate partners and individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Leadership Development

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Leadership, Character Education & Values Development (EDAMAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

DEI, Inclusive Leadership & Cultural Intelligence Coaching (EDABANAJ), Growth Mindset, Motivation & Goal-Setting Programs (EDAMAIAE)

Keywords

• Youth leadership development
• Nonprofit mentoring programs
• Corporate partnership programmes
• Diversity inclusion initiatives
• Underrepresented talent pipelines

Headquarters

HQ city

Leatherhead

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. Corporate Partnerships: Aleto generates revenue through strategic partnerships with corporations who fund and co-deliver leadership programmes. Partners host programmes at their offices, provide mentors, and contribute to programme costs in exchange for access to diverse talent pipelines and ESG/CSR impact.
2. Donations: Individual donations from supporters funding programmes. The foundation operates a JustGiving campaign with suggested donation tiers (£15, £150, £500) that fund specific programme elements from workshop materials to long-term mentoring.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aleto Foundation designs and delivers free, fully funded leadership development programmes, 1:1 mentoring, and bespoke industry-tailored experiences for young people aged 19-25 from under-represented backgrounds across the UK. Programmes are co-funded and hosted by corporate partners (e.g. BT, OVO Energy, Aston Martin Aramco F1, dmg media, Mako Trading) who gain ESG/CSR impact and access to diverse talent pipelines. Standalone offerings include the flagship multi-day Leadership Programme, the 9-month Mentoring Programme for alumni, the Bespoke Programme (industry-specific variants), the Summer Leadership Programme (SLP26 at dmg media), the Mako Insight Day, the Black Leadership Academy (with OVO Energy), and the Stand Out & Get Selected university outreach initiative.

Product overview

Aleto Foundation is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of leadership development programmes for young people (aged 19-25) from under-represented backgrounds. The core offerings consist of the flagship Leadership Programme (intensive multi-day experience with workshops and judged presentations), the Mentoring Programme (9-month 1:1 alumni mentoring), and the Bespoke Programme (industry-specific variants). Additional offerings include the Summer Leadership Programme (SLP26, hosted with dmg media), the Mako Insight Day (trading and technology exposure), the Black Leadership Academy (in partnership with OVO Energy), and the Stand Out & Get Selected university outreach initiative. These programmes are designed to build skills, confidence, and professional networks for young leaders from ethnic minority, low socio-economic, and other under-represented backgrounds across the UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Leadership Programme An intensive, multi-day flagship leadership programme for 19-25 year olds from low socio-economic backgrounds, featuring public speaking and personal branding workshops, CV/interview/career-skills sessions, entrepreneurship deep dives, a team challenge and a judged final presentation to a panel of senior judges.
• Mentoring Programme A one-to-one mentoring programme exclusive to Aleto Foundation alumni, providing dedicated 9 months of support from positive role models matched by industry and background, focused on confidence, skills, self-esteem and access to networks.
• Bespoke Programme An industry-specific programme following the flagship Leadership Programme format, tailored towards employment in specific industries with additional workshops on career preparation, hints, and tips for obtaining positions.
• Summer Leadership Programme (SLP26) An exclusive 4-day programme for 19-25 year olds from low socio-economic backgrounds in the UK, hosted in partnership with dmg media at their Kensington offices, providing insider knowledge on the media industry, high-level connections, and career-changing opportunities. Applications for SLP26 limited to UK residents only.
• Mako Insight Day A full-day insight experience at Mako Trading's London offices for 18 STEM students from underrepresented backgrounds, featuring trading and technology sessions, a live trading simulation, and direct access to graduate and internship opportunities.
• Black Leadership Academy A leadership programme supporting emerging and established Black leaders, delivered in partnership with OVO Energy, helping participants build relationships and credibility leading to career advancement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of programme participants progress to leadership roles
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mako TradingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Since 2024, Mako has partnered with Aleto to run insight days for young people exploring careers in financial services, giving delegates direct access to professionals and real industry experience in proprietary trading. The 2026 Insight Day offers 18 places for STEM students.
• OVO EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Multi-year partnership (2023-2025) delivering both a Leadership Challenge Day and the Black Senior Leadership Academy, supporting emerging and established Black leaders across OVO's business. Includes 1:1 mentoring, networking opportunities, and immersive problem-solving sessions.
• BTcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019One of Aleto's longest-standing partners, BT has hosted five years of the Annual Leadership Programme opening doors to exceptional young talent and helping shape the next generation of leaders in tech and telecoms.
• Aston Martin Aramco Formula One TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership since 2023 delivering both leadership and mentoring programmes for young people from low socio-economic backgrounds, exploring careers and opportunities within motorsport and Formula One. Three cohorts completed as of 2026. ESG Director Debbie Wall leads programme development, providing outreach and education alongside career opportunities.
• dmg mediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost partner for the annual Summer Leadership Programme, opening their Kensington offices and connecting delegates with senior leaders across their media brands. The 2026 SLP runs 23-26 June at dmg media's Kensington offices.
• Johnson & JohnsonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner2025 programme partner delivering leadership development opportunities as part of Aleto's six core programmes delivered that year.
• SalesforceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner2025 programme partner delivering leadership development opportunities as part of Aleto's six core programmes delivered that year.
• AvanademinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuring the pandemic, Avanade partnered with Aleto to keep programmes running virtually. The impact was lasting - one delegate went on to secure a role at another partner organisation directly as a result of the programme.
• SThreeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting interview preparation, delivering workshops for Aleto delegates, and hosting alumni events. Global Purpose & Inclusion Manager Emma Connor leads involvement. Exploring mentoring and reverse mentoring opportunities.
• Daily Mail & General TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted kick-off event for the Summer Leadership Programme at their offices, providing initial engagement point for mentors including new Trustee Toni Meadows.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Stemette Futures: UK social enterprise engaging girls and young women in STEM through events, mentoring and industry programmes. Comparable in targeting underrepresented youth with corporate-sponsored programmes, though STEM-specific and more event-driven.
• The 93% Club: UK student-led social mobility organisation supporting state-school students into top universities and graduate employment. Comparable as a social mobility pipeline initiative, though more student-network driven than programme-delivered.
• Generating Genius: UK charity supporting Black and minority ethnic students into STEM careers through university access, mentoring and industry partnerships. Comparable in targeting underrepresented youth into corporate careers, though focused on STEM and slightly younger cohort.

Broad incumbents

• The Prince's Trust: Long-established UK youth charity supporting under-represented young people into education, training and employment. Comparable as a UK-focused youth development charity operating at much larger scale, with similar mission of unlocking potential for disadvantaged young people through programmes and partnerships.
• The Sutton Trust: UK foundation focused on improving social mobility through education research and programmes for young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Comparable in targeting low socio-economic youth and partnering with employers to widen access, with a stronger research/policy emphasis.

Direct peers

• Rare Recruitment: UK diversity recruitment and consulting firm helping employers attract and develop ethnic minority and other underrepresented talent. Comparable as a DEI-focused intermediary bridging underrepresented candidates and corporate partners, with overlapping corporate partner base.
• Career Ready: UK charity connecting students from lower-income backgrounds with employer mentoring, workplace visits and skills masterclasses. Direct peer in the employer-led mentoring + workplace exposure model for underrepresented young people, though it focuses on slightly younger ages (14-24).
• SEO London (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity): UK charity delivering mentoring, coaching and leadership programmes for students and graduates from under-represented backgrounds. Closest direct peer in terms of target audience (underrepresented youth), programme structure (mentoring + corporate partnerships) and mission (talent pipeline for top employers).
• Reach Society: UK charity supporting young people of African and Caribbean heritage into leadership through mentoring, role models and career guidance. Highly comparable in mission and beneficiary focus, with similar mentoring-led programme model and UK corporate engagement.
• upReach: UK social mobility charity providing career mentoring, skills training and employer engagement for undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Direct peer in combining mentoring, employer partnerships, and outcomes-focused leadership development for underrepresented UK students.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AletoFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/AletoFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aleto-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Aleto Foundation