INCLUDED – an initiative to create personalised pathways to connect Greater Cambridge’s young people with more opportunities – is inviting individuals and organisations to consider what they could do to open more opportunities to help young people to be part of Cambridge’s success story.
Included is a Cambridge City Council led project, within a wider regional system led by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, with early funding partners Greater Cambridge Development Corporation and The Cambridge Pledge. Included is now seeking support from individuals and organisations now, ahead of launching the initiative to young people from spring 2027.
Included was a focus of a panel discussion at the Innovate Cambridge summit on Wednesday 21 October. Attendees heard how, despite Greater Cambridge being one of the UK's most successful innovation economies, an estimated 9,000 16-24 year olds across Cambridgeshire – around one in 10 – were not in education, employment or training (NEET) in 2025. And, while many programmes already exist to support young people in Cambridge, few reach the young people who need them most, as access is ad hoc and unequal, and opportunities are disconnected and lack co-ordination.
Included was created in response, to connect and coordinate the opportunities that are available and develop personalised pathways to ensure every young person can access education, employment or training opportunities they value.
People and organisations may be able to help open more opportunities for young people by providing:
- A workplace visit
- Work experience or a work placement
- Mentoring or tutoring
- Skills or expertise
- An introduction or connection
- Funding to support the initiative
Individuals or businesses who would like to find out more or offer support can do so by:
- visiting included-cambridge.org, where you can also subscribe to the Included mailing list
- following Included on LinkedIn
Cllr Katie Thornburrow, Leader of Cambridge City Council, said: “Cambridge can be a fantastic place to grow up and to start your working life, but many young people cannot access the connections and experiences that will help them to become part of Cambridge’s success story.
“Included is designed to connect local young people with the opportunities that can change the course of their lives. There are many individuals and organisations already doing fantastic work to open up good job opportunities for young people, but it’s not always easy to navigate what’s already available. We also need to provide more opportunities.
“We’re asking people and organisations across Greater Cambridge how they can help open up more opportunities, to show young people they are welcome, valued and capable of achieving great things, while developing skills and knowledge to unlock job opportunities in the future. Included is about ensuring every young person in Greater Cambridge can have a good job, or be on a clear path to getting one.”
Paul Bristow, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, said: “As Mayor, my job is to bring partners together so that every young person across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough can find a route into learning and good work, with connected support when they need it.
“We are already ahead of the curve. We began developing our ten-year Youth Employment and Participation Strategy for 14–25-year-olds in March, alongside delivery of our Youth Guarantee Trailblazer. As national proposals point towards greater mayoral leadership of youth participation, we are already building the partnerships and shared approach needed to turn that ambition into action.
“Included is a welcome contribution to this wider regional effort. It can help connect Greater Cambridge’s remarkable employers and networks with the pathways and support young people need. I want businesses to get involved: opening a workplace, offering mentoring or creating work experience can help a young person see a future they had never thought possible.”
Peter Freeman, Chair of Greater Cambridge Development Corporation, said: “Every young person should have the chance to fulfil their potential and benefit from Greater Cambridge’s success. We all have a responsibility to make that happen, because widening opportunity is not only the right thing to do, it is fundamental to building a stronger, more inclusive economy. Included is bringing partners together around that shared ambition, and we are proud to support it. I would encourage everyone to get behind the project and play their part."
Sara Allen, Executive Director of The Cambridge Pledge, said: “The Cambridge Pledge gives people who’ve built their success here a way to give something back to the city that gave them their start. Included channels that instinct into something practical - a work placement, an hour of mentoring, an introduction that opens a door. At The Cambridge Pledge, we're proud to have helped shape it and bring it to life. And we’d encourage every pledger, founder and business across Cambridge to ask the same question Included is asking: what could you open up for a young person?”
Kathryn Chapman, CEO of Innovate Cambridge, said: “In Cambridge, many young people grow up surrounded by some of the world's most extraordinary research and innovation, and yet do not necessarily see a place for themselves in it. That's not a lack of ambition or talent on their part, it's a lack of access to networks, experiences and opportunities that others take for granted. Included will join up and align activities, ensuring that more young people across Cambridge can benefit from innovation-led growth."
