£671,000 investment to prepare Sunderland students for the world of work
FutureReady Sunderland is being led by St Aidan’s Catholic Academy in partnership with St Anthony’s Girls’ Catholic Academy, Castle View Enterprise Academy and Southmoor Academy
A major new investment from the SHINE Sunderland education fund will see schools form closer bonds with local businesses and give young people across the city meaningful experiences of the workplace.
FutureReady Sunderland is a five-year careers education programme for students aged 11–18, designed to prepare them for the world of work by connecting them with local employers and key sectors.
Education charity SHINE has invested £671,148 into the five-year programme, which is being led by St Aidan’s Catholic Academy in partnership with St Anthony’s Girls’ Catholic Academy, Castle View Enterprise Academy and Southmoor Academy.
The project responds to significant local challenges. Sunderland is among the 20% most deprived areas in the UK, and many young people have limited access to professional networks or workplace role models.
Schools report clear gaps in participation in work experience, with disadvantaged and SEND learners significantly less likely to secure placements than their peers.
FutureReady Sunderland aims to close this gap by embedding structured, progressive workplace experiences within the curriculum and providing targeted support, including help with transport, workwear and preparation for placements.
Emma Osmialowski, who is leading the project at St Aidan’s Catholic Academy, explained the long-term ambition behind the initiative: “We want to improve long term economic outcomes for Sunderland’s young people by exposing them to the North East’s priority sectors and foundation economy.
“Sunderland is undergoing an ambitious regeneration programme that we really want our young people to be part of by equipping them with the knowledge and skills to thrive in their own city and beyond.
“By building long-term partnerships between Sunderland’s secondary schools, and the wider city we can build a blueprint for a collaborative approach towards a city-wide modern work experience model that is consistent, scalable, and long term.”
During its first phase, the programme is focusing on building strong foundations. Schools are working with local partners and employers to develop a business engagement strategy, create high-quality resources and establish an employer pledge system, enabling businesses to contribute in ways that suit their capacity.
This may include industry insight videos, workplace visits, digital resources, mentoring and placements.
The programme is also working with delivery partners including Creo Comms, which is supporting branding and content creation.
High-quality videos will be created, showing students some of the career options in the city that they may not previously have been aware of.
From September 2026, participating schools will focus initially on the creative industries, reflecting Sunderland’s growing cultural and digital economy, before expanding into additional sectors in later years, including advanced manufacturing, offshore wind and energy, digital, defence, security and space, life sciences and business services.
Sunderland already has a thriving arts and culture sector, and this momentum is set to accelerate with the Crown Works Studios project, which will establish the city as a major hub for the film and television industry. This ambition is further strengthened by the new Mayoral Development Zone, which brings a £600,000 investment to support Sunderland’s growth as a creative capital.
Alongside workplace experiences, learners will take part in employer-led activities designed to build confidence, develop transferable skills and improve awareness of local opportunities.
Ensuring that opportunities are inclusive is central to the project’s design. Emma said: “We hope this project will give every young person in Sunderland the opportunity to access meaningful, progressive experiences of the workplace, ensuring all learners gain equal access to high quality placements and employer encounters that are not standalone activities, but are woven into the culture and curriculum of our schools.
“We want to close the participation gap in work experience by removing barriers like transport, cost, and lack of networks.”
FutureReady Sunderland is also designed to benefit employers by providing a coordinated, city-wide approach to engagement. Schools are working closely with local business networks and partners to build sustainable relationships and reduce duplication, making it easier for organisations to support young people across multiple schools.
The project is expected to grow over time, with additional schools joining through the Sunderland Careers Network and resources shared through a digital hub. By the end of the programme, the aim is that every secondary school learner in Sunderland will have access to employer-led activities and a wide range of work experience opportunities.
“We were absolutely thrilled to be awarded such a substantial and long-term investment to fund this project on a city-wide scale,” Emma said.
“The grant we have been awarded will be transformational in creating a model that supports each and every young person whilst also creating opportunities that would otherwise be limited.
“The grant validates the need for a fairer, more inclusive approach to modern work experience and exposing our young people to the full breadth of opportunities, industries, and future pathways that exist across Sunderland and the wider North East.
“As the lead school, we are excited to begin building a project that will be carefully planned and co designed with Southmoor Academy, Castle View Enterprise Academy and St Anthony’s Girls’ Catholic Academy, employers, and partners. This place based approach allows us to design a model rooted in the specific needs and strengths of our city, delivering real, measurable impact for young people who currently face the biggest barriers.”
FutureReady Sunderland forms part of the wider SHINE Sunderland programme, which is investing more than £11 million in secondary education across the city over ten years. Reflecting on this broader partnership, Emma said: “SHINE Sunderland is one of the most ambitious long-term education programmes in the country, and it is incredible to be part of a ten-year partnership that is investing over £11 million directly into Sunderland’s secondary schools.
“SHINE’s commitment to truly understanding the city, the barriers our young people face, the opportunities they deserve, and the support schools need to help them succeed aligns completely with the work we do every day in secondary schools, but now gives us the financial backing to bring projects like this to life at the scale our learners deserve.”
“Businesses across Sunderland and the wider North East who would like to get involved with FutureReady Sunderland are warmly invited to express their interest. We will be hosting a summer networking event on 17 June at The Fire Station, bringing together employers and educators to share insight, build relationships, and begin shaping this ambitious programme together. Local organisations who want to play a part in inspiring and preparing the next generation are encouraged to join us and start the conversation.”
For more information and to get involved, email Emma at eosmialowski@staca.co.uk.