EY Foundation

What EY Foundation does

EY Foundation is an independent UK registered charity (charity numbers 1157154 in England and Wales, and SC045076 in Scotland) founded in July 2014 and affiliated with Ernst & Young Global Limited. The organisation supports young people aged 16-19+ from low-income backgrounds — primarily those recently eligible for Free School Meals, college bursary, or Education Maintenance Allowance — to develop employability skills and access paid work experience with employers. Its core delivery portfolio includes Smart Futures (a 12-month programme with sector-specific variants in professional services, banking and finance, technology, security, charity, STEM, actuarial, private equity, and real estate), Your Future (a six-month programme for school leavers entering work directly), Step Into Business (an entrepreneurship programme with a £2,000 startup grant), and Beyond Horizons (a Bradford-based work-experience pilot launched in 2026). The foundation operates from four UK hubs in London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow, and is supported by 350+ employer partners annually.

The foundation does not build or operate proprietary technology products; its programme delivery is face-to-face and workshop-based, supplemented by a website application portal (eycareers.ambertrack.global), a Spotify podcast, and active social channels on LinkedIn and Instagram. Its interaction with AI is research- and advocacy-led rather than product-led: the AI Youth Voice Project (University of Nottingham partnership, 2025) builds employer models for youth voice in AI deployment, the AI and Social Mobility Challenge Prize (launched June 2026) funds external AI ventures, and associated reports explore generative AI for personalised learning and recommendation systems for career guidance.

EY Foundation's revenue model is non-commercial: programmes are provided free to eligible young people, with operating costs covered by three streams — corporate partnerships with 350+ employers (funding, placements, volunteers, mentors), grant funding from trusts and grant-making bodies, and individual donations/fundraising through the Enthuse platform. The foundation earns no direct programme fees from young people or schools, and its financial scale is disclosed only via HMRC/Charity Commission filings rather than publicly. Strategic direction is set by CEO Lynne Peabody (joined March 2014) and a leadership team including a Chief Programmes Officer, CFO, and Directors of Communications and Influence and Partnerships; the organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees and operates as a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.

Name

EY Foundation

Legal name

EY Foundation

Website

https://eyfoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

EY Foundation is an independent UK charity, founded 2014 and affiliated with Ernst & Young Global Limited, that runs employability programmes for young people aged 16-19 from low-income backgrounds, delivering paid work experience through 350+ employer partners across four UK hubs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Employability and Social Mobility Charity Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Youth employability programmes
• Social mobility charity
• Paid work experience
• Careers education support
• Employer-led mentoring

Headquarters

HQ city

City Of London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate partnerships and employer engagement: The EY Foundation generates income through partnerships with 350+ employers annually who fund employability programmes, provide work experience placements, and support the foundation's ESG and DE&I goals. Employer partners include companies across tech, banking, charity, security, sustainability, and professional services sectors.
2. Grant funding: The foundation receives grant funding from grant-making organisations and trusts that support the delivery of youth programmes across the UK.
3. Individual fundraising and donations: The foundation accepts individual donations through its Enthuse fundraising platform and engages in fundraising activities with supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

EY Foundation is an independent UK charity that delivers free, employer-led employability programmes for young people aged 16-25 from low-income backgrounds. Its core offerings combine paid work experience placements, employability skills training, mentoring, and networking opportunities delivered through 350+ employer partners across banking, technology, professional services, security, charity, and sustainability sectors. The foundation is operationally funded by corporate partnerships, grants, and donations, and complements programme delivery with original research and policy work on AI, social mobility, and the future of work.

Product overview

EY Foundation is an independent charity offering a suite of employability programmes for young people from low-income backgrounds. The core portfolio includes Smart Futures (12-month programme with sector-specific variants including Business & Finance, Tech Futures, Banking & Finance, STEM Futures, Secure Futures, Impactful Futures, Data Driven Futures, Private Equity Futures, and Real Estate Futures), Your Future (six-month programme for students entering work directly), and Step Into Business (entrepreneurship programme with startup grants). Additional initiatives include Beyond Horizons (work experience pilot in Bradford), the AI Youth Voice Project (in partnership with University of Nottingham), and the AI and Social Mobility Challenge Prize. Research and policy work complements programme delivery through reports on AI and social mobility, intrinsic motivation, and inclusive labour market topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smart Futures: A 12-month programme giving young people the opportunity to gain paid work experience and take part in interactive employability skills workshops during the school holidays
• Your Future
• Step Into Business
• Beyond Horizons
• AI and Social Mobility Challenge Prize
• Channelling Motivation
• Youth Voice Forum
• Making Green Jobs Accessible for Everyone

Products and services

• Smart Futures A 12-month programme for Year 12 (or S5 in Scotland) students from low-income backgrounds providing paid work experience with employer partners, up to two weeks of employability skills training, interactive workshops, mentoring, and alumni event access. Delivered by EY Foundation free of charge via four UK regional hubs.
• Tech Futures Specialist programme variant under the Smart Futures programme supported by international technology companies, providing insight, work experience, and mentorship from technology professionals developing the latest digital advancements.
• Smart Futures Banking and Finance Programme for young people interested in banking and finance careers, covering branch banking, technology, sustainability, marketing, risk, and relationship management roles.
• Secure Futures Programme offering experience and understanding of roles available in the security industry, keeping people safe online, in the workplace, at home, and in public spaces.
• Impactful Futures Programme exploring careers in the charity sector, providing insight into roles which can bring about positive change in society.
• Smart Futures Business and Finance Specialist programme for young people interested in careers at EY/professional services, helping take first steps into accounting, consulting, or other professional services with focus on degree apprenticeships.
• STEM Futures Programme providing insight, knowledge and experience of careers linked to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
• Data Driven Futures: Actuaries Programme exploring actuarial careers, teaching young people how actuaries use mathematical skills to predict risks and help businesses plan and make smart decisions.
• Private Equity Futures Programme for young people interested in the world of investment, discovering the ins and outs of private equity and how it powers innovation and growth.
• Real Estate Futures Programme designed to increase understanding of the property sector, providing skills and insights to build a career shaping communities and cities.
• Your Future A six-month programme for students wanting to go straight into work after Year 13, providing two weeks of paid employability skills training, a recruitment bootcamp, three days of paid work experience, and six months of job coach support.
• Step Into Business A programme for 16-19 year olds with business ideas, providing a one-day interactive workshop on starting a business, up to six months of one-to-one business coaching, and the opportunity to apply for a £2,000 startup grant for qualifying participants who progress a business or social enterprise idea.
• Beyond Horizons A pilot work experience programme in Bradford supporting young people to explore strengths, challenge job stereotypes, and build confidence through a four-part journey: discover strengths, explore local growth sectors, experience workplace challenges, and reflect and plan.
• AI and Social Mobility Challenge Prize A first-of-its-kind UK initiative supporting ventures using AI and emerging technologies to improve social mobility outcomes for young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, delivered as a competition and cohort programme with grant funding.
• AI Youth Voice Project A collaborative initiative delivered in partnership with the University of Nottingham to build and test a model that employers can use to bring youth voice into decisions on how AI is developed and deployed, involving workshops with young people and employers.
• Youth Voice Forum A core youth-led group aged 16-25 from across the UK, working as Advocates for Change to influence EY Foundation's internal work and external advocacy across areas including youth voice, employment, social mobility, communications, and digital innovation.
• AI and Social Mobility Report A research report responding to gaps in responsible AI considerations, focusing on the specific impact of AI on social mobility, outlining opportunities, risk mitigation, and the importance of placing young people at the heart of AI developments.
• Intrinsic Motivation Research Research in partnership with Institute for the Future of Work exploring how fostering intrinsic motivation can help young people from low-income backgrounds thrive better in an AI-transforming labour market, including the Channelling Motivation reports and the Good Work Motivation Cycle (GWMC) model testing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 28,000+ young people supported since 2014
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship / core, major / significant, significant and minor.

• Social Tech Trustflagship / coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Primary delivery partner for the AI and Social Mobility Challenge Prize. Social Tech Trust co-designed and co-delivers the programme alongside EY Foundation, which is a first-of-its-kind UK initiative supporting AI ventures improving social mobility outcomes for young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Applications open 22 June 2026.
• Social Mobility Commissionflagship / coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Official partner of the AI and Social Mobility Challenge Prize. The commission works with EY Foundation to explore how AI can expand opportunity for young people and bring insights into its next steps on innovation and social mobility.
• Microsoft UKmajor / significantGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 June 2026Supporting partner of the AI and Social Mobility Challenge Prize, providing support for ventures developing AI solutions for social mobility. Microsoft's Vice President Corporate Affairs cited the opportunity for AI to expand access to learning and opportunity for young people.
• Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (HSF Kramer)significantGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 June 2026Supporting partner of the AI and Social Mobility Challenge Prize, contributing to the cross-sector collaboration that provides practical support to ventures using technology to break down barriers for young people.
• EYflagship / coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026EY serves as both an employer partner and supporting sponsor of the AI and Social Mobility Challenge Prize. As the parent affiliate of EY Foundation, EY provides significant operational support, employer engagement, and programme delivery across all foundation activities.
• FieldfishersignificantGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 June 2026Supporting partner of the AI and Social Mobility Challenge Prize. Fieldfisher's Head of Just Purpose cited commitment to supporting ventures using technology to break down barriers and create lasting opportunity for young people across the UK.
• LinkedInsignificantGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 June 2026Supporting partner of the AI and Social Mobility Challenge Prize. LinkedIn's Head of Social Impact (EMEA/LATAM) stated support for ventures helping young people navigate education and employment pathways in an inclusive and equitable way.
• Demosmajor / significantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026Cross-party think tank that produced research funded by EY Foundation on 'Economies of Coordination'. The report explores how better local partnerships between SMEs, councils, and educators could unlock £28bn in annual UK growth and 1.9 million additional apprenticeships.
• NPCsignificantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026Partnered with EY Foundation on the 'Making Green Jobs Accessible for Everyone' report, published through NPC's Everyone's Environment programme. NPC conducted deliberation groups with young people aged 11-21 from low-income backgrounds in England.
• GroundworksignificantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026Partnered with EY Foundation to carry out research for the 'Making Green Jobs Accessible for Everyone' report. Groundwork contributes expertise in nature recovery, energy efficiency, and the circular economy, and delivers programmes supporting young people with barriers to employment.
• West Midlands Combined AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026Pilot region for the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer. The authority is exploring how intrinsic motivation research can inform support for young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
• Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW)major / significantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026Research partner on multiple studies including 'Channelling Motivation' (three interconnected reports on intrinsic motivation and AI's impact on young people from low-income backgrounds) and ongoing work on the Good Work Motivation Cycle (GWMC) model testing.
• University of Nottinghammajor / significantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 July 2025Academic partner for the AI Youth Voice Project, delivered in partnership to build and test a model that employers can use to bring youth voice into decisions on how AI is developed and deployed. The project includes workshops with young people and employers, led by a researcher from the university.
• Groundswell InnovationsignificantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Produced the 'Business Case for Social Mobility: A Guide for SMEs' report for EY Foundation through qualitative research with companies in North West England, outlining economic risks of inaction on social mobility and actionable steps for SMEs.
• Ernst & Young (EY)flagship / coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2014EY is the founding and primary corporate sponsor of EY Foundation. EY provides funding, employer engagement, programme delivery support, volunteers, and administrative infrastructure. EY Foundation is a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited and benefits from EY's global brand and network.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Prince's Trust: The UK's largest youth charity, focused on employability, education and skills for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds (12–30). Directly comparable as a UK youth employability charity with employer engagement and funded programmes at much larger scale.
• Speakers for Schools: UK charity providing young people with access to leading figures from politics, business and entertainment, plus work experience. Comparable on the employer/education bridge and free access for state-school students.
• Movement to Work: UK coalition of employers committed to quality jobs, apprenticeships and training for young people at risk of long-term unemployment. Direct comparator on the employer-led youth employment mission.
• Career Ready: UK charity connecting young people aged 16–19 with employer-led mentoring, paid internships and workplace experience. Closely comparable model: school/college referral + employer placements + alumni network.
• SEO London: Charity providing career access and professional development for students from underrepresented backgrounds into professional services, banking, consulting and tech. Closely aligned to EYF's professional-services sector focus.
• Social Mobility Foundation: UK charity that supports high-achieving students from lower socio-economic backgrounds into professions and top universities. Mirrors EYF's social mobility mission, professional services sector focus, employer partnerships and corporate-dei alignment.
• Envision: UK charity running employer-mentored programmes for 16–19 year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds. Highly comparable model targeting similar FSM-eligible cohort with employer partnerships and skills workshops.
• Brightside (formerly Brightside Trust): UK charity connecting under-represented young people with industry mentors and real-world career experiences. Directly comparable on mentoring-led employability model for disadvantaged youth.

Broad incumbents

• Catch22: UK social business working with young people facing disadvantage on education, employability and social care. Comparable mission to EYF but at much broader scope and scale across public services.
• Barclays LifeSkills: Corporate-led employability and life skills programme funded by Barclays, serving UK young people with workplace readiness content. Comparable as a corporate-affiliated employability programme with employer networks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ey-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/ey_foundation/?hl=en%20

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 EY Foundation