Running from 17-28 August, the programme welcomed 18 young people aged between 16 and 25, giving them the opportunity to explore different areas of the business, develop new skills and gain valuable insight into careers within financial services.
The programme was developed by leaders across the business who wanted to make a difference, in response to the challenges many young people face when trying to secure meaningful work experience and gain exposure to professional environments. What began as an idea to create opportunities for local young people quickly became a business-wide initiative, with more than 50 Foundation colleagues contributing their time and expertise over the two weeks.
The programme was designed to be different from a traditional internship from the very beginning, including a recruitment process focused on potential rather than formal applications and ongoing support that continues long after the two-week placement has ended.
Unlike a traditional internship, the Future Talent Programme was designed from the outset around what participants would gain from the experience, rather than what it could deliver for the business. The programme aimed to help equip young people aged 16 to 25 with the skills, confidence and practical understanding needed for modern working life, whether that is working in an office, collaborating remotely or building professional relationships in a changing workplace.
Participants gained exposure to a wide range of business functions, including sales, underwriting, operations, customer service, finance, risk and compliance, IT, HR, learning and development, ESG and EDI. Alongside this, they received CV and interview support, guidance on professional networking, career development sessions and an Insights Discovery evaluation to help them better understand their strengths and working styles.
By providing hands-on experience and direct access to professionals across the business, participants gained a clearer understanding of potential career paths and the skills needed to succeed in the workplace.
Iain Berthelemy, Group Head of Learning and Development at Foundation said:
"This programme was never about creating a traditional internship. From day one, it was built around giving something meaningful to the young people taking part and helping them prepare for whatever comes next in their careers.
“We wanted to do everything we could to help equip young people with the skills and confidence they'll need for modern working life. Whether they go on to work in an office, work from home or as part of a hybrid team, understanding workplace expectations and building confidence are skills that will benefit them throughout their careers.
“We wanted to give them more than just time spent watching other people work, so we built the programme around practical projects, career development and opportunities to better understand their own strengths and potential."
Throughout the programme, participants worked collaboratively on projects, heard first-hand career stories from colleagues across the business and had opportunities to present their ideas to senior leaders. The experience was designed not only to develop practical workplace skills, but also to build confidence and broaden aspirations.
Throughout the programme, participants took part in project presentations, career development sessions and networking opportunities designed to support participants beyond their time at Foundation.
Attendees will continue to receive support through references, professional networking advice, social media guidance and Foundation's online alumni community, enabling them to stay connected and access opportunities after the programme has ended.
Reflecting on the impact of the initiative, Iain Berthelemy added:
"Many participants arrived understandably apprehensive, but within days they were presenting project outcomes to colleagues and senior leaders. Their confidence grew every day.
"Many told us they felt more prepared for the future, more confident in their abilities and reassured that there is no single route into a business like ours. Watching that shift in perspective was incredibly rewarding.
“What we're most proud of is that the support doesn't end when the programme finishes. We want participants to know they have an ongoing network they can turn to as they take their next steps.”
Kayla Docis, A Future Talent, said:
“Foundation was a warm, welcoming environment where I have made great friends and connections. It taught me the benefits of working in an office environment and overall has helped me narrow down career paths. I am now looking to start a career in Finance and feel fully supported by Foundation moving forward.”
The success of the programme was reflected in participant feedback. We received an overall satisfaction score of more than 4.8 out of 5, along with a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of +100 for whether participants would recommend the programme to others. Feedback also highlighted increased confidence, improved communication skills and a greater understanding of potential career pathways.
Lisa Fisher, Group Director of HR at Foundation added:
“The talent we witnessed throughout the Future Talent Programme was remarkable. What stayed with me most, however, were some of the personal stories’ participants shared about the challenges they had faced simply trying to access opportunities and gain experience.
“We witnessed young people presenting to senior leaders, building professional networks, developing their employability skills and growing in confidence every day. It reinforced my belief that as employers we have a significant role to play in bridging the gap between education and employment. If we want to develop the workforce of the future, we need to create more opportunities like this - the challenge is not a lack of talent, it's creating opportunities for that talent to be seen.”
Pete Ball, CEO of Foundation, said:
"The Future Talent Programme is a great example of what can happen when a business comes together to invest in people. We wanted to create something that gave young people meaningful experience, practical skills and greater confidence about their future."
"The feedback we've received from participants has been invaluable and we're already looking at how we can make the programme even better. This is not a one-off initiative. We fully intend to run the Future Talent Programme again and use what we've learned from our first cohort to continue improving the experience and creating more opportunities for young people."
"The enthusiasm, commitment and growth shown by every participant over the two weeks was fantastic to see. We're incredibly proud of what they've achieved and grateful to all our colleagues who helped bring the programme to life. Supporting future talent is an important part of who we are as a business and sits alongside our purpose of making mortgages happen."
