Youthquake returns to inspire young people to change business for good.

Youthquake, a unique training programme as part of The Good Business Festival, is returning to give young people in the Liverpool City Region the chance to make a difference to their communities.

Now in its third cohort, Youthquake is an 18-week traineeship for 16-24 year olds that gives learners a unique platform with first-hand access to key business leaders across the region.

Originally a partnership between The Regenda Group, The Good Business Festival, and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Youthquake creates opportunities to study how ‘good business’ can be a catalyst for change, and how social entrepreneurship can benefit communities.

For its third outing, Youthquake is sponsored by the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership, providing £20,000 of funding to the programme to help ensure that all communities across Merseyside have the right to be free from violence to provide the best life chances for all.

As part of Youthquake, participants are tasked with planning a business concept to address key issues in their community, before pitching this to local business leaders at a Dragon’s Den style event. They will also undertake a work experience placement with a top employer, to put their skills into practice.

Joanne Abraham, Managing Director of The Learning Foundry, said, “Youthquake has transformed the lives of some amazing young people, and now we’re back for round three, it will be better than ever! We’re fully onboard with The Good Business Festival’s mission to change business for good, and this time we’re also excited to be joined by the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership and their work to help keep our communities safe”

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said:

“I constantly remind government ministers that young people in the Liverpool City Region are no less talented than any other part of the country, but too often, they are held back by a lack of opportunity. Ensuring that they get those chances to succeed is one of the most important things we could do.

“Youthquake is a great initiative to help our young people raise their aspirations, which equips them with the skills to think differently and launch values-driven businesses. It fits perfectly with my vision to make ours a region that wants to do business, but not business as usual.”

Claire McColgan MBE, Director at Culture Liverpool, said:  “The Good Business Festival is all about accelerating a positive change and championing the talents of our next generation, and Youthquake embodies this ethos perfectly.

“Previous Youthquakes have enabled those taking part to tap into skills they never knew they had, while flying the flag for doing good business. We’re really looking forward to seeing how this year’s group of young people take forward their ideas and play their role in The Good Business Festival.”

Detective Superintendent Siobhan Gainer, Head of the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership said:

“Young people in Merseyside possess the vision, the entrepreneurship, and the creativity to succeed in business. However, we must recognise that a proportion of them grow up experiencing disadvantage. Whether perceived or real, many of these disadvantages can be barriers to achieving what they want in life.

Youthquake aims to change that. A young person in a progressive and supportive environment, unleashing their potential to tackle a social issue which is important to them, can be world changing.

The Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership puts young people at the heart of decision-making as does Youth Quake, which engages them in finding solutions to realise their value to society. It also encourages businesses to recognise their role in tackling issues such as youth violence, so that we make Merseyside a place where children, young people and their families thrive.”

Youthquake begins on 24^th January 2022, ahead of the Good Business Festival in March 2022.