New collaboration provides free access to hundreds of online courses, complementing existing face-to-face support programmes.
The Young Leaders Club (YLC), a Birmingham-based organisation supporting underrepresented young people aged 16-24, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with The Open University (OU) that will significantly expand educational opportunities for its members.
The collaboration will integrate The Open University’s OpenLearn Create platform into YLC’s existing support framework, providing members with free access to hundreds of professional development courses. These range from one-hour sessions on CV writing to comprehensive 24-hour programmes covering digital skills, leadership development, and career advancement strategies.
This digital learning opportunity will complement YLC’s established face-to-face workshops, which currently include financial literacy training, leadership development, sales training, and interview coaching sessions.
Addressing Critical Skills Gaps
The partnership comes at a crucial time for British business. The Open University’s 2024 Business Barometer survey reveals that just over half of UK employers recognise skills gaps within their organisations, with more than a third reporting that staff shortages are directly impacting productivity.
Significantly, the survey found that 70% of employers are willing to train young people to address these shortages, yet 60% of young respondents reported never receiving guidance from employers or careers advisers about where they need to improve their skills.
Founder’s Vision Realised
Jamil Shabir, who founded YLC in 2024 in the West Midlands, emphasised the transformative potential of the partnership: “This collaboration with The Open University is a game-changer for our young people. By combining our real-world workshops with access to hundreds of high-quality online courses, we’re giving them the tools to build confidence, develop critical skills, and map out their futures with purpose.”
Shabir added: “Education shouldn’t come with barriers, and through this collaboration we’re helping to remove them. Whether it’s a one-hour course on CV writing or a deep dive into digital skills, our members can now access support that fits around their lives and ambitions.”
Mentorship and Inspiration
The programme will be enhanced by mentorship opportunities with young professionals like Santina Bunting, who brings real-world experience to inspire YLC members. “I’ve seen first-hand how access to the right knowledge can transform lives,” Bunting explained. “For many young people, especially those who haven’t followed a traditional route, having free, flexible learning opportunities like this can be the spark they need to believe in their potential.”
Aligned Missions
Chaitali Patel, Head of Prospects at The Open University, highlighted the natural synergy between the organisations: “We are delighted to be supporting Young Leaders Club. Its aims align with our mission to open up education to all and give people from all backgrounds the skills they need to get ahead in their careers.”
Meeting Digital Learning Preferences
The partnership also addresses young people’s learning preferences, with the OU Business Barometer revealing that 47% of young respondents prefer online learning to face-to-face instruction. The flexible nature of the OpenLearn Create platform allows members to access education around work schedules and other commitments.
Additionally, YLC will have the capability to host its own custom courses on the platform, creating tailored content that specifically addresses the needs of its community.
