125 | UK Enterprise Awards 2023 May23374 Best Social Enterprise 2023 Encountering challenge at a young age can form how you live for the rest of your life. The team at the Commercial Foundation are committed to acting as a second chance for 16-24-year-olds who have experienced barriers to work or education. This digital print studio creates high quality materials for clients, using a workforce of young people to build skills that can be transferred elsewhere. Earning success in the UK Enterprise Awards, we thought it time to dig a little deeper into this amazing organisation. In 2015, the Commercial Foundation first opened its doors, running a 12-week course where volunteers participated in a variety of skills-based training. The aim was simple – to build valuable skills and gain self-confidence while receiving on-the-job experience. Over 130 young adults have gone through the scheme, and more than 85% have gone on to find a job or access further education or training. At the heart of the approach of the Commercial Foundation, therefore, is the idea of mentorship. To provide opportunities in the future, people need to learn from the experts of today. The team is deliberately designed not only to be from an experienced background, but naturally supportive and able to combine the skills to develop confidence. As such, its little wonder that openness to all is paramount for the team. No matter what the background or circumstance, someone can find a welcome here. When we caught up with Adam Miller, he was keen to point out that there are many inequalities in UK society. “In a utopian world there would not be a need for food banks, there would perhaps be no need for social enterprises too,” he says. “But this is a real world, not a utopian one. And while there are always problems – sometimes of a greater magnitude – elsewhere in the world, we have made a very determined decision to help on our own doorstep.” With such a practical mindset, it’s little wonder that the team have managed to develop an incredible network of companies who want to work with the team. Alongside suppliers, the skills they offer are invaluable. The Commerical Foundation provides a place for work experience, for CV writing expertise and for mock interviews. All of these skills builders are supported by professional companies who see the value of it as well. The challenge for the future will be to support young people who have experienced disruption to their lives like never before. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted lives around the world, and a generation of young people suffered from stalled education efforts and significantly reduced social interaction which led to an increase in stress and anxiety. These people are now entering the workforce, and the Commercial Foundation has found it’s essential to fill in the gaps that have arisen. Employers, too, are looking for new skills to meet the needs of a much-changed environment and that is something that the team are also looking at constantly to ensure that their efforts are up-to-scratch. 2023 was the year that the Commercial Foundation achieved its most significant piece of recognition, namely recognition of its B Corp certification. This means that the team are one of 10,000 global organisations who have been proven to put purpose ahead of profits. In many ways, this showcases precisely what sets the Commercial Foundation apart. It’s something that is truly unique. We cannot wait to see what the team does next! Company: Commercial Foundation Name: Adam Miller Email: adam.miller@commercialfoundation.co.uk Web Address: www.commercialfoundation.co.uk
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