At LTSB, we work exclusively with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, giving them the preparation and connections they need to access professional careers. We’re delighted that 11 of the programme’s 13 participants progressed directly into career-focused employment, with 10 taking up Customer Service Representative roles at Tesco IMS following interviews in November.
The achievement comes against a backdrop of significant inequality in Glasgow, where 44% of residents live in Scotland’s 20% most deprived areas and over a third of children grow up in poverty.
How the Programme Worked
Our pilot programme combined skills training with real-world workplace exposure. Over six weeks, participants developed core professional skills including business communication, interview techniques and networking, while visiting Glasgow employers for insight sessions that opened doors to corporate environments many had never previously accessed.
The group visited companies including Forvis Mazars UK, BDO, Pinsent Masons as well as Tesco IMS, who not only agreed to support the delivery but also to interview all programme graduates for available roles.
Reiss, 20, one of the successful Tesco IMS candidates said:
“LTSB will change your life in many ways with the outlooks that it teaches you during the programme. The people you meet and the places you go will stick with you forever as it is a great environment with great leaders. I would recommend this course to future young people who are looking to apply!”
Purpose-Driven Partnership
At LTSB, we know impact is achieved when working in collaboration. When employers and third sector organisations work together with genuine shared purpose, they can unlock opportunities that transform lives while also benefitting business.
By combining LTSB’s specialist support for young people with Tesco’s commitment to inclusive recruitment and talent development, this partnership has created a pathway into professional careers for young people who may otherwise have been overlooked.
Helen McGachy, Head of Customer Service, Tesco IMS:
“We’re delighted to welcome these ten talented young people to Tesco IMS. This programme has demonstrated the wealth of potential that exists across Glasgow when young people are given proper support and opportunity. We’re proud to partner with LTSB and invest in the city’s future talent while contributing to greater social mobility.”
Debs Barlow, Director of Employment at LTSB:
“This is a brilliant outcome for our first Glasgow cohort and proves what’s possible when you combine the right support with genuine employer commitment. In a city where 44% of residents live in some of Scotland’s most deprived areas, ten young people moving directly into secure professional roles is genuinely transformational – not just for them, but for their families and communities.
What made this work was Tesco’s willingness to truly invest in these young people, not just interview them. We’re incredibly grateful for their partnership, and to all our funders and supporters who believed in this pilot.”
