Marks & Spencer: Working to
change young lives
Marks & Spencer has been a corporate
supporter of The Prince’s Trust since 2005. By working together we
have changed over 1,000 young people’s lives through their Marks
& Start scheme and employee involvement.
Marks & Start
Marks & Spencer's flagship community programme,
Marks & Start has become the biggest programme
of its kind in the UK and Ireland, aiming to offer up to 10,000
work experience placements to people who may face barriers getting
a job.
The programme offers practical placements in Marks & Spencer
stores and offices and are offered to school children, people with
disabilities, parents returning to work, the young unemployed, the
homeless and students who are the first in their family to go to
university.
The Prince’s Trust works with Marks & Spencer to provide
disadvantaged young people with the opportunity to take on these
work placements through a number of our programmes. Young people
primarily take up placements through The Trust’s Get into Retail
programme which provides sector specific pre-employment training
and support both during and after their work placement with Marks
& Spencer.
Employee Engagement
Marks & Spencer’s employees all over the UK have also taken
part in a number of activities to support disadvantaged young
people. This includes volunteering their time to deliver work place
skills workshops, mentoring young people whilst on their placements
and taking part in our Million Makers fundraising challenge in
Northern Ireland.