Landsec, owner of both Trinity Leeds and White Rose Shopping Centre, is announcing a new partnership with Resurgo’s ‘Spear Programme’ and the Ahead Partnership, which both aim to help local young people into employment.
The partnership is funded by Landsec’s new social impact programme, Landsec Futures, a £20m fund which aims to bring more value to the communities where Landsec invests.
The programme will see White Rose and Trinity Leeds join forces with Resurgo and Ahead Partnership, which are already leading the charge in supporting people from underrepresented backgrounds into employment.
Together, the centres, Resurgo, and Ahead Partnership will deliver education and work experience-led programmes for people in Leeds to increase access to the broad range of careers in the real estate industry.
With a renewed partnership, backed by an increase of investment and longer-term support, White Rose and Trinity Leeds hope to have an even greater impact in the local area.
Of the partnerships, Steven Foster, centre director at both White Rose and Trinity Leeds, said: “Investing in those already creating opportunities for local people means we can bring more value to the communities we serve where it’s needed most.
“Through our new programmes with Ahead Partnership and Resurgo, we’ll support more people from underrepresented backgrounds into employment, working with local young people to build their employability skills and increase access to employment opportunities so that everyone can fulfil their potential.”
Stephanie Burras, CEO of Ahead Partnership, commented: “We’re delighted to be able to deepen and extend the rewarding partnership that we have enjoyed with Landsec over the last seven years. The exciting skills and employability activities we have delivered with Landsec’s retail teams across the country, including mentoring and Made In sustainability challenges, have equipped hundreds of young people with the confidence and skills they need to succeed.
“Our new three-year partnership with Landsec Futures will allow us to scale and deepen the impact of these successful school programmes. We look forward to working with Landsec colleagues to provide opportunity to many more young people.”
Harry Campbell-Meakins, corporate partnerships manager at Resurgo, added: “Resurgo are delighted to continue working with Landsec with a new three-year partnership with Landsec Futures. We look forward to delivering the award-winning Spear Programme across the UK in centres local to Landsec assets. Businesses have the power to give opportunity and improve social mobility. It is therefore fantastic to find real alignment in our objective of helping 16-24-year-olds overcome the significant challenges they face and support them to get into and succeed in long-term employment and truly realise their potential.”
White Rose and Trinity Leeds will work with Resurgo to deliver its Spear programme, which offers six weeks of intensive training followed by a year of support via trained coaches to assist with job applications, interview preparation, ‘hire me’ events, and access to exclusive job opportunities. They’ll collaborate with Ahead Partnership to support young people via dedicated long-term school partnerships, including its ‘Made in’ challenges, which asks participants to develop and present their ideas for retail, and its ‘Share Your Spark’ mentoring programme.
The news is one part of a national commitment Landsec is making to maximise the potential of people, places, and the communities it works with through a £20m social impact investment. Combined this fund will deliver £200 million worth of social value by 2030.
