Career Ready

Become a mentor with Career Ready and help empower a young person's future. Mentoring, along with a paid internship at Glasgow City Council, helps Glasgow's young people build the skills, confidence, and support networks they need to thrive in school, work, and life.

What is Career Ready?

Career Ready is a social mobility charity that works across all Glasgow secondary schools and some ASNs to support young people in S5 who don't have access to the opportunities they need to reach their potential in the world of work.

In partnership with employers, Career Ready helps transform young lives by delivering an 18-month programme of one-to-one mentoring along with a paid internship in the mentor's organisation, and skills masterclasses.

Glasgow City Council have partnered with Career Ready since 2012.

"My mentor was someone that listened to me and enhanced my self-confidence - I'd never had someone do that before that wasn't family or a friend. She made me believe I could do whatever I wanted, no matter what happened after my exams. She told me 'the results don't define you' - and that really stuck with me."

Amy from Holyrood Secondary School who had a mentor and paid internship at Glasgow City Council

What is involved in the progamme?

The Career Ready programme consists of three main elements:

• A mentor from the world of work for 18 months
• A paid four-week internship at the mentor's organisation, held during June-July
• Six skills masterclasses, coordinated by Career Ready and delivered by employee volunteers from partner organisations. This is not a requirement for mentor involvement.

How can I support Career Ready?

We need more mentors from the council to help support young people on the programme. Having a mentor is an extremely valuable element in student's journey from education to the workplace, helping them to develop the skills and attitudes needed for the world of work. Mentoring meetings take place every four to six weeks for 1 to 1.5 hours, ideally in the mentor's workplace.

To enable you in your mentoring journey there is full support available including:

• Student and mentor matching
• Career Ready facilitates mentor safeguarding checks (PVG scheme membership)
• Training and mentor handbooks
• Each mentor is connected to a member of staff from the school of their student, for guidance and support.
• Access to the Career Ready portal which offers access to information and resources that will support you through the programme.

What else do I need to know?

Departments need to budget for the young person's four-week internship pay of £896 in summer 2025, based on the current national minimum wage for under 18s.

What are the benefits of mentoring with Career Ready?

How do I get involved?

Watch this space for information on how to apply to become a Career Ready mentor, or if you would like to register your interest or get more information contact Gary Condie on Outlook.