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Programme

F4S

Talent and Skills

Impact for scaleups

3,900+

Educators supported

28,000+

hours volunteered

600,000+

Young people engaged with employers

30,962

Maths4Girls Students Supported

8,000+

connections made via Digital Boost

£2m+

value of Digital Boost support hours delivered

Key sectors

Impact ventures / Social Impact Life Sciences & Biotech Building & Construction Manufacturing / Advanced Manufacturing Creative, digital, film, games & media Professional services Defence & security Technology & Communications Engineering / Advanced Engineering Transport & Logistics Environmental Science & Technology Farming, fisheries & forestry Finance Food & drink Healthcare

F4S is an educational-tech charity that works with volunteer business leaders from early stage scaling and scaleup businesses to give children and young people the opportunity to meet the people who are creating the jobs of tomorrow.

Alongside its core activities, its webinar service breaks down barriers to engagement and helps to connect students and business volunteers based in rural locations. A series of webinars for educators guide them through F4S’ online platform and provide advice on how to make the most out of the encounters for their students.

Through participating young people are equipped with an entrepreneurial mindset, social and problem-solving skills along with an understanding of growing sectors with a focus on STEM and business and finance. It gives insights into roles available in these sectors, career paths and educational and vocational routes into these careers.F4S also runs the ‘Maths4Girls’ (M4G) programme, which invites educators to invite female (and male) role models who work within maths-based sectors such as finance, computing and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) into the classroom. 83% of students said the programme raised their optimism about their future, 78% cited a positive impact on their well being and  sense of belonging and 100% of volunteers surveyed said that they would recommend Maths4Girls to colleagues and friends.

This year, F4S launched ‘Sustainable’ in partnership with WWF UK and Villiers Park Educational Trust. Part funded by the Evolution Education Trust, this free programme is aimed at 14–18-year-olds and equips teachers and career leads with the tools to empower students to build a sustainable career and thrive in a future green economy. Last year more than 2,000 young people met with volunteer role models working in sustainability, gaining insights about core skills and different pathways into a career in the sector.

A suite of support is also available through F4S’s ‘Digital Boost’ programme. Delivered in partnership with BCG Digital Ventures, Digital Boost equips leaders and employees of small businesses and charities with the digital knowledge to grow their organisations. Digital mentors connect with people who want to upskill, delivering support through one-to-one sessions, workshops and tailored recommendations for action. 

Digital Boost has now made 8,100 connections and established many long-term relationships and 2,300 people have participated in workshops. Support given has an equivalent value of at least £2m. Approximately half of those supported identify as female and more than 35 per cent are from ethnic minority backgrounds.

F4S website