Careers Inspiration For Every Child

Conference Momentum & Regional Collaboration

Over the past few months, our team has been working at pace to build momentum into 2026, and we’re proud to be entering the new year with a growing network of supporters, partners, and young people at the heart of everything we do.

A major highlight has been the lead-up to our Annual Conference 2026, taking place on Thursday, 29 January 2026 at the Hinxton Hall Conference Centre, themed “Young People and Work in the Age of AI.” This flagship event is bringing together employers, educators, policymakers, and civic leaders.

As interest in the conference has grown, so too has our sense of purpose. The agenda reflects a uniquely diverse mix of viewpoints, spanning education, recruitment, policy, and industry, and is designed not only to explore the challenges but to spotlight real solutions that can shape a fairer future for young people.

We are incredibly grateful to the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), who are supporting access to the conference by funding 100 places for senior school leaders and careers leads, helping ensure that the people guiding young people day-to-day can be part of the conversation and take practical insight back into their schools.

Youth Voice & Big Questions

One of the most powerful developments this period has been the continued leadership of Youth Voices, Form the Future’s youth advisory committee. Youth Voices brings lived experience and insight into everything we do, ensuring our work stays grounded in what young people actually need, not what adults assume they need.

This month, Youth Voices has helped shape our Big Debate at the Annual Conference, selecting the themes, the motions, and the questions for discussion. Their contribution is a vital reminder that conversations around AI and the future workforce cannot happen without the next generation at the table. For many young people, this isn’t a distant policy issue.  It’s their reality arriving in real time.

Looking Ahead

As we move into 2026, our mission remains the same: a future where every young person, regardless of background, has the confidence, knowledge, and connections to thrive. But as the world of work changes faster than ever, the need for this support is only growing.

AI is reshaping industries, recruitment, and skills expectations at speed. Without intentional action, there is a real risk that young people already facing disadvantage will be left further behind. Not through lack of talent, but through lack of access, guidance, and opportunity.

That’s why we’re so grateful to everyone who supports Form the Future. You’re not just supporting an individual. You’re helping shape the future workforce and strengthening the long-term prospects of our region.

With your continued help, we can reach more young people, create more meaningful employer connections, and ensure that the future of work is one in which every young person belongs.

New Leadership and Growth

In June 2025, we were delighted to welcome Michelle Lamprecht as a Non-Executive Director and Gwen Bergius as Business Development Manager. Michelle brings deep expertise in communications and technology, while Gwen strengthens our ability to build partnerships and create opportunities for growth. Together, they add significant strategic capacity to help us expand our impact.

We also celebrated 10 years of impact with a landmark anniversary event at the University Museum of Zoology. Industry partners, Ambassadors, schools, and supporters gathered to reflect on a decade of inspiring progress and to look ahead to the next chapter. At this celebration, we honoured Stephen Blackmore with a Long-standing Contribution Award, recognising his exceptional commitment to mentoring and his role in helping countless young people see new possibilities for their futures.

Finally, we were confirmed as the continuing delivery partner for the Greater Cambridge skills programme, cementing nearly a decade of collaboration and successful delivery. This partnership ensures we can continue supporting thousands of students and employers across the region with meaningful career encounters.

Partnerships & Programme Launches

In July, we partnered with Indie Cambridge to host an inspirational “Skills for Work” evening at the Glasshouse in Cambridge. This event brought together professionals and students in a relaxed, open setting, where conversations flowed about career journeys, transferable skills, and the realities of working life. The evening helped to break down barriers and give students confidence to ask questions directly to employers, with many leaving energised and reassured about the different routes open to them.

Our "Insights webinar series" also returned this summer, supported by the Greater Cambridge Partnership. Designed to help parents, carers, and young people make informed choices about education and the world of work, these free online sessions have already seen strong demand. The first two sessions attracted more than 500 participants, reflecting just how valuable this kind of accessible guidance is for families navigating big decisions. Upcoming sessions will continue to spotlight apprenticeships, skills development, and alternative career routes.

Events & Engagements

This September, we partnered once again with Cambridge Tech Week (15–19 September 2025) to deliver our Tech Futures programme. Over three days, sixth-form students from Cambridgeshire dove into the world of tech careers - meeting industry leaders including ARM, Illumina and The Centre for Computing History, exploring future opportunities, attending fascinating tech seminars and taking on the HackEd hackathon with Tech Educators.

In July, the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute hosted its second Cambridge LaunchPad Project Day in partnership with Form the Future. Students had the rare opportunity to step inside a leading research environment, meet scientists, and take part in hands-on activities that brought life science to life. For many, this was their first direct exposure to the cutting edge of biomedical research, sparking curiosity and planting seeds for future study or careers in STEM.

Looking Ahead

As we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, our vision remains clear: a future where every young person, regardless of background, has the knowledge, confidence, and connections they need to thrive.

None of these achievements would be possible without the generosity of our supporters, our volunteers, employer partners, funders, schools, and community advocates. Your belief in our mission fuels everything we do.

But the need is growing. With your help, we can reach even more young people who are at risk of being left behind. By donating, volunteering, or opening your workplace to students, you can play a direct role in shaping the future workforce.