The H&F Upstream Pathway Bond provides a broad menu of opportunities to help businesses play a meaningful role in supporting the local community in which they operate.
You can choose from as many or as few of the opportunities listed below as you wish. The bond is a central part of our Industrial Strategy which focusses on inclusive growth with a clear emphasis on promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths, Medicine, Media (STEM3) as a driving force for employment.
Whether you're a start-up, scale-up, large corporate or an institution, we want to collaborate with you to create an environment where nobody is left behind, thereby nurturing the talent crucial for the future workforce. In return, we're happy to provide you with a public endorsement for your work.
The benefits to your organisation include:
- raising your organisation's profile
- supporting your immediate and longer-term talent pipeline
- enabling staff to give back to the local community
- providing an opportunity for staff personal and professional development
- investment in both future workforce and local talent.
Our menu of opportunities
1. STEM3 inspiration and connections
- Inspire and educate young people in STEM3 activities appropriate to their age and stage including workshops, mentoring sessions, learning through play, and hands-on activities.
- Provide advice and support to young people participating in international visits in Hammersmith & Fulham's international partner municipalities, and help broaden the networks of local students on international visits or work experience through business contacts.
- Support council-led events and the annual STEM3 festival, while developing links with Upstream London's global innovation district partners.
2. Apprenticeships and work experience
- Create high-quality apprenticeships with top-tier training providers and donate unused Apprenticeship Levy funds to support local businesses and charities.
- Offer accessible career workshops, workplace visits, open days and Q&A sessions designed alongside young people and services with a clear pathway for participants to engage further.
- Provide one week and summer work placements with industry mentors.
3. Extra-curricular and community support
- Make facilities available for educational and extra-curricular activities and ensure a sense of shared community by hosting inclusive events and activities within available spaces.
- Sponsor extra-curricular educational projects and activities to enhance young people's health, wellbeing, creativity, skills, knowledge and confidence.
- Investment in the future workforce through activities making the borough a great place to live, work and grow, such as support for parents, access to childcare, and safe activities for young people.
4. Mentoring and sponsorship
- Provide financial support for underrepresented students, including paid summer placements and maintenance grants for those pursuing graduate and postgraduate education.
- Sponsor students for educational trips and exchanges.
- Establish bespoke mentoring programmes that pair students with professionals and offer long-term guidance and support through structured mentorship.
5. Skills and education
- Support local young people from diverse backgrounds to achieve excellence in their education through provision of quality study spaces, technology, and learning support.
- Host workshops or sponsor programmes to build interpersonal and professional skills such as workplace behaviour and confidence building.
- Provide access to inclusive entry-level training for young people exploring their first steps into the workplace including provision for wrap-around support, employability skills such as CV writing and covering letter writing, interview techniques, job searches, job application and career advice.
To find out more, contact: business-support@lbhf.gov.uk