Ambition has no single route: Rio Ferdinand Foundation Announces New Partnership with Not Going to Uni
A strategic partnership that will open doors, challenge perceptions and help young people discover alternative routes to success.
This latest collaborative partnership brings together two organisations committed to supporting young people to access their route to success. University isn’t the right path for everyone, and it isn’t accessible to everyone. That’s exactly why this partnership matters: it’s about showcasing alternative pathways, broadening aspirations and opening doors to meaningful careers.
The average graduate leaves university carrying £53,000 of debt*, yet one in four still finds themselves outside a skilled role eighteen months after finishing their degree **, while 957,000 young people aged 16–24, some 16.2% of that age group, are classified as Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET)*.
Increasingly, young people are seeking practical alternatives to the traditional university route, pathways that offer real experience, meaningful skills, and the chance to earn while they learn.
The Rio Ferdinand Foundation’s strategic partnership with Not Going to Uni, the UK’s leading website for school and college leavers, enhances the conversation around careers. Through the Not Going to Uni platform, young people can explore their options, make informed decisions about their futures, and, importantly, discover the pathways that are right for them.
This collaboration strengthens the Foundation’s role as an industry connector, providing a platform for the Foundation’s network of partners to promote their early-career opportunities and enabling the Foundation to reach more young people and provide the support and guidance they need to build meaningful careers. The partnership will also provide employers with new ways to engage diverse young talent and build recruitment pipelines that better reflect the communities they serve.
From apprenticeships and traineeships to school leaver programmes and vocational qualifications, this collaboration is about creating choice and awareness, connecting companies with the next generation of talent, and young people with the career opportunities they’ve been looking for.
“At the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, we’re passionate about helping young people understand that success doesn’t come from following someone else’s pathway, it comes from finding the pathway that’s right for you.
Together, we’re creating a partnership that connects ambition with opportunity. By combining our networks, employer relationships and shared commitment to social mobility, we can help more young people discover meaningful alternatives to gain valuable experience, develop practical skills and build successful careers without feeling that there isn’t a pathway for them.
Every young person deserves to have the opportunity to reach their potential. This partnership helps make that happen.”
- Ben Drew, Director of Education and Opportunities, Rio Ferdinand Foundation
“We are incredibly proud to be partnering with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, an organisation whose values closely align with our own.
We share a deep commitment to ensuring that every young person, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to explore their potential and access the support and pathways they need to thrive.”
- Prue Day, Partnerships Manager, Not Going to Uni
