YOUNG CONNECT - COMMISSIONABLE EMPLOYABILITY INTERVENTIONS
Young CONNECT is an adapted version of our professional development programme, CONNECT - which delivers dynamic and practical training for organisations and teams. It combines techniques from our creative practice, business development theory, social sciences, neuroscience, and our rich experience of supporting a wide variety of young people.
It’s a challenging time to be a young person. Mortal Fools' innovative employability programmes inspire creativity, build confidence, and foster wellbeing to empower individuals in their career goals.
-Vicki Clarke, Employment Partnership Coordinator
at Northumberland County Council
Young CONNECT leads participants through a practical training process of identifying personal strengths, increasing knowledge, and developing new communication skills. We are highly skilled at holding inclusive participatory spaces, using engaging creative facilitation techniques, and supporting all participants to contribute. We provide rich learning opportunities for groups and individuals to step outside of their comfort zone in a supportive environment.
We are regularly commissioned by businesses to develop and deliver young people’s employability interventions in response to the skills gaps they are seeing in the workplace.
We are regularly commissioned by businesses to develop and deliver young people’s employability interventions in response to the skills gaps they are seeing in the workplace.
WHAT OUR PARTICIPANTS SAY
“I just really loved meeting new people and learning how to work with others – I don’t get to do that very often.”
“I really liked that Mortal Fools don’t leave anyone behind – we felt like a big team. They made sure everybody took part in the programme in their own way.”
“The training has helped me learn new skills, try new things and to step out of my comfort zone.”
“The trainers were very understanding of my needs and gave me great advice. They helped me think about the workplace in a different way.”
“The training was like nothing I’ve ever done before, and I didn’t think I’d be able to do it – but I did! My confidence has grown loads.”
“I really liked that Mortal Fools don’t leave anyone behind – we felt like a big team. They made sure everybody took part in the programme in their own way.”
“The training has helped me learn new skills, try new things and to step out of my comfort zone.”
“The trainers were very understanding of my needs and gave me great advice. They helped me think about the workplace in a different way.”
“The training was like nothing I’ve ever done before, and I didn’t think I’d be able to do it – but I did! My confidence has grown loads.”
WORKPLACE CHALLENGES ADDRESSED
THROUGH YOUNG CONNECT
Businesses we have supported have shared the following challenges with the emerging workforce:
- Face-to-Face Communication: Young people may find it challenging to engage in meaningful face-to-face conversations - impacting teamwork and relationship-building - as they’ve grown up in a digital-first world.
- Generational Disconnect: Gen Alpha have different workplace expectations than previous generations, and don’t always thrive in more traditional workplace structures. Differences in communication styles, work values, and expectations can necessitate organisational evolution.
- Information Overload: The constant influx of information can lead to shorter attention spans and difficulties in focusing on long-term projects.
- Mental Health & Resilience: Young people often have a low tolerance to challenge, change, stepping out of their comfort zone, and stress - lacking self-management skills.
- Over-Reliance on Technology: With a heavy dependence on digital tools for problem-solving and communication, Gen Alpha can struggle with face-to-face interactions and traditional problem-solving methods.
- Soft Skills Development: Essential soft skills such as empathy, active listening, and conflict resolution often require additional training and development.
The Mortal Fools Team are like a warm hug to work with. Nothing was a problem. They ran Confidence & Communication workshops as part of our Young Citizens weeklong intervention; they were personable, adaptable and entertaining. The young people got so much from their workshops, it was noted as a Top 3 from the event with many saying it was engaging, thought-provoking and that they gained valuable skills for employment and education - especially more confidence! We won’t hesitate to commission Mortal Fools again and we would encourage other companies to reach out to them – they bring something different to the table!
- Amber Swift, Northumbrian Water
PREVIOUS COMMISSIONS
Recent commissioned interventions:
- Commissioned by Muckle LLP in 2025 to run communication and presentation skills training as part of their ongoing targeted recruitment of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Commissioned by Northumbrian Water in 2024 and 2025 to run communication, resilience, and confidence workshops as part of a week-long employability intervention for 14-16 year olds.
- Commissioned by Creative Central NCL in 2023 to run a week-long employability intervention, supporting a cohort of 12 young people aged 16-30 pursuing careers in the creative industries.
- Commissioned by INTO Global in 2023 to run communication workshops for international students studying in the North East.
- Commissioned by Creative Wakefield in 2022 and 2023 to run youth leadership workshops for a teen young leader’s group.
- Commissioned by Newcastle University to run presentation and communication skills training for their annual Graduate Ambassador programme, supporting newly employed young people as part of their induction.
CREATIVE OUTPUT
An example of co-created creative output from one of our commissioned employability interventions:
A group of young people worked for a week with Mortal Fools and The Kings Trust on an employability programme called 'Get Started With: Performance & Creativity'. This inspiring and empowering animation is full of advice from young people who have struggled with low confidence, for other young people who may feel similar.
A group of young people worked for a week with Mortal Fools and The Kings Trust on an employability programme called 'Get Started With: Performance & Creativity'. This inspiring and empowering animation is full of advice from young people who have struggled with low confidence, for other young people who may feel similar.
COMMISSION MORTAL FOOLS
If you would like to find out more about our young people’s employability work, or if you’d like to commission Mortal Fools to run an employability-enhancing intervention, please email [email protected]
