Inspire 2 Ignite named as delivery partner for six Youth Trailblazer programmes across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
Inspire 2 Ignite CIC is partnering with employers, educators, and community organisations across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to deliver six new Youth Trailblazer programmes under the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Youth Guarantee. Through these collaborations, Inspire 2 Ignite will support young people aged 18–25 to access hands-on experiences, build skills, and progress towards meaningful routes into work across sectors including construction, hospitality, tech, and manufacturing.
These programmes align closely with Inspire 2 Ignite’s mission to connect young people with opportunities, real-world experiences, and the networks that help shape their futures. By working alongside employers, educators, and community partners, Inspire 2 Ignite helps young people develop practical skills, strengthen their sense of readiness, and take their next steps into employment, training, or entrepreneurship. Each Trailblazer project focuses on a different sector, offering a range of pathways for young people to explore and ignite their potential.
Over the coming months, these Trailblazer programmes will support more than 200 young people across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to access new skills, experiences, and clear progression pathways. Alongside industry opportunities and accredited training, participants will benefit from mentoring, coaching, and tailored wraparound support to help them move forward with confidence.
This Youth Guarantee investment comes at a pivotal time for the region, supporting young people facing barriers while also helping local employers access a more prepared and diverse future workforce.
Across the Trailblazer portfolio, Inspire 2 Ignite will contribute to the delivery of six programmes, each developed with sector-specific partners to offer practical experience and progression routes:
• Curious About Hospitality Designed and delivered in partnership with The Citizen Hub St Neots CIC and local businesses, this programme introduces young people to the hospitality sector through hands-on experiences, skills development, and employer insight sessions. Local hospitality partners including Bohemia, Welch Bakes and Wyboston Lakes Resort will support young people to understand the range of career opportunities available and build confidence in real working environments.
• Curious About Construction Delivered with Cambridge Regional College and supported by construction partners including Hill Group UK, BIDWELLS LLP, SMD Ltd, and Mick George, this programme provides a structured introduction to the construction industry. Participants will gain practical experience, site exposure, and accredited training, helping them develop skills and progress into employment, apprenticeships, or further training.
“Curious About Construction is more than a programme - it’s a launchpad for ambition. Cambridge Regional College is delighted to partner with Inspire 2 Ignite and leading industry partners to provide young people the chance to step onto real sites, gain accredited skills, and build the foundations for a future full of possibilities.”
• Intro to Work+ An enhanced version of Cross Keys Homes’ existing Intro to Work programme, this Trailblazer-funded edition layers in Inspire 2 Ignite’s mentoring, employer engagement, and industry experiences to strengthen the programme and offer young people more tailored support and clearer routes forward.
• Ignite Into Industry A multi-sector programme delivered by Inspire 2 Ignite with support from regional employers including MM Flowers, Moss UK, Novotel Hotels and others. Young people will explore opportunities across high-growth industries, gain exposure to real workplaces, and receive 10 hours of free career coaching through Stay Nimble with lifetime access to their platform to help them take their next steps into employment or entrepreneurship.
• Trailblazer Sales & Leadership Programme Co-delivered with Focus4growth, this programme develops young people’s sales, communication, influence, and leadership skills. It adapts professional corporate training frameworks – typically reserved for senior business leaders – into an accessible, youth-focused model that builds real-world capability and employability.
Working with Inspire 2 Ignite on this programme is a privilege. When young people get the right support, you see their confidence grow fast. Programmes like this work because we learn from each other. Young people get a community around them, and a mentor who can help them build the skills that matter most: communication, teamwork, personal leadership, and coaching. These are the abilities employers prioritise, and we’re proud to help young people to develop them when it matters most.
• Digital Innovator Course Delivered by Tech Educators, this ten-week programme introduces young people to digital and technical skills through hands-on learning and project-based experiences. Inspire 2 Ignite will engage participants, provide wraparound support, and help young people progress into relevant work experience or further training opportunities.
“Young people across our region have so much potential, but too often they simply haven’t had the chance to show it. These Trailblazer programmes give them access to real workplaces, real experiences, and real people who believe in them. Working alongside so many committed partners, we’re creating the kind of opportunities I wish I’d had at their age - opportunities that can genuinely change the direction of a young person’s life. This is what the Youth Guarantee is all about, and we’re proud to play our part in making it happen.” - Sam Squire, CEO, Inspire 2 Ignite
We are proud to support Inspire 2 Ignite through the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer. By harnessing Inspire 2 Ignite’s expertise in engaging young people and connecting them with real-world opportunities, the Ignite Into Industry project will give young people the chance to take meaningful steps toward employment and enterprise – which sits at the very heart of the Youth Guarantee’s mission".-
Beth Satterly, Youth Guarantee Programme Lead, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority
These six programmes form part of the CPCA Youth Guarantee Trailblazer and demonstrate the strength of partnership working across the region. By bringing together employers, educators, and community organisations, the Trailblazer portfolio is helping young people access the experiences, networks, and support they need to move into education, employment, or training. This collaborative approach is shaping a more connected, opportunity-rich landscape for young people across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
