Launch your career
with The GoodWork Programme!
Your background should never be a barrier to success.
The GoodWork Programme is here to equip you with the tools to start your career with confidence, and connect you with employment opportunities aligned with your goals.
The GoodWork Programme is open for applications!
We’re looking for motivated 18-25 year olds, from lower income backgrounds.
Our 6-month employability programmes offer you access to the training, support and opportunities you need to kickstart your career.
We offer two versions of the GoodWork programme: Both provide comprehensive support, mentorship, and access to opportunities, but are designed to meet slightly different needs.
Read the information below to decide which is the best fit for you ↓
Core Programme
High contact, intensive support
Best suited to those living in or around London; without a degree or with little to no work experience.
Hybrid delivery (in-person and online)
6-month programme running 1 September 2025 - March 2026
Two weeks foundational skills building plus 6 x monthly group training days - in person in Central London
Online Programme
Lower contact, supplementary support
Best suited to university graduates or those with some work experience.
Fully online delivery
6-month programme running 7 July 2025 - January 2026
6 x monthly online training webinars that build on your existing skills
Plus both programmes include:
Fortnightly 1:1s with a professional mentor to support your goals
Monthly online group check-ins and ongoing, individual support from the GoodWork team
Access to fairly paid work opportunities through our London based partner employers
Guidance to apply for other apprenticeships & work opportunities aligned with your goals
Join a community of peers at a similar life stage
75%
of our graduates secure long-term employment on the programme
94%
of our graduates feel better resourced to launch their careers
Programme Roadmaps
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1. Application & Assessment
Apply directly through GoodWork, via a form that asks you a bit about yourself and your ambitions. This is to check you meet our eligibility requirements (see below!)
If it’s a match, you’ll be invited to an informal screening call with one of our team to double check the programme is the right fit for you
Following this, you’ll attend a friendly assessment centre, consisting of an interview, task and group task
If you’re successful, you’ll join the programme alongside a cohort of 25 others, benefitting from peer support and community
If we don’t think programme is the right fit for you, you’ll receive feedback and be signposted to alternative support
2. Induction & Skills Builder Week
You’ll begin with two weeks of intensive in person training. This will include an induction; CV clinic; various skills workshops; and a group project where you’ll work on briefs and gain exposure to real corporate clients.
3. Mentoring
We’ll match you with an industry professional who can support you to reach your career goals. You’ll meet online every two weeks and receive personalised support with applying for jobs and transitioning into employment.
4. Transition to Work days
Once a month, we’ll meet in person for a full day of sessions with various industry experts. These may include things like:
Industry Specific Q&As
LinkedIn Networking
Interview Skills
Workplace Advocacy
Sustainable Productivity
Financial Literacy
and many more!
On these days you’ll also have time to work on applications, CVs or your LinkedIn profiles, with peers and members of the GoodWork team on hand to support.
5. Employment Opportunities
Through our range of partner employers, you’ll be submitted for GoodWork specific opportunities that align with your goals. Whilst you’re not guaranteed a job, this puts you in a much smaller pool of candidates and matches you with employers specifically focused on empowering underrepresented talent.
You’ll also be supported to find and apply for other roles/apprenticeships that align with your ambitions.6. Further Support
You’ll take part in regular check ins and receive tailored support from the GoodWork team throughout and beyond the six months. We continue to work with those who don’t gain employment on the programme, providing further assistance to maximise chances of success. You’ll also join our alumni community and receive regular updates and opportunities.
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1. Application & Assessment
Apply directly through GoodWork, via a form that asks you a bit about yourself and your ambitions. This is to check you meet our eligibility requirements (see below!)
If the programme seems like a good fit for you, you’ll be invited to a friendly online interview
If you’re successful, you’ll join the programme alongside a cohort of 15 others, benefitting from peer support and community
2. Mentoring
We’ll match you with an industry professional who can support you to reach your career goals. You’ll meet online every two weeks and receive personalised support with applying for jobs and transitioning into employment.
3. Employability Skills Webinars
Once a month, you’ll join an online workshop, facilitated by industry experts. These are designed to build valuable skills and connect with professionals who can offer further guidance.
Sessions may include:
Industry Specific Q&As
CV Workshops
Interview and Networking Skills
LinkedIn
Growth Mindset and Goal Setting
and more!
4. Employment Opportunities
You’ll be supported to find and apply for other roles/apprenticeships that align with your ambitions.
Through our range of partner employers, you’ll also be submitted for GoodWork specific opportunities that align with your goals. These are based in London, so suitable for anyone who is able to commute here. Whilst you’re not guaranteed a job, this puts you in a much smaller pool of candidates and matches you with employers specifically focused on empowering underrepresented talent.
5. Further Support
You’ll take part in regular check ins and receive tailored support from the GoodWork team throughout and beyond the six months. We continue to work with those who don’t gain employment on the programme, providing further assistance to maximise chances of success. You’ll also join our alumni community and receive regular updates and opportunities.
Am I eligible?
To join either GoodWork programme you’ll need to be…
Between 18-25 years old on the programme start date (07/07/25 for Online; 01/09/25 for Core)
Not in education
From a lower socioeconomic background (see FAQs for more detail on what this means!)
Interested in a corporate, creative, public or third sector career that doesn’t require an industry specific qualification
Motivated, have a growth mindset and be ready to put your time and energy towards achieving your goals!
We prioritise support for candidates without qualifications or experience. To apply for our core programme, you must not have a degree grade 2:1 or above from a Russell Group University; our online programme is open to those with higher level qualifications.
Graduate Success
Get inspiration and insight from previous GoodWork participants!
Online
Applications open: 19 May 2025
Applications close: 2 June 2025
Programme start: 7 July 2025
Programme end: December 2025
Key Dates
Core
Applications open: 19 May 2025
Applications close: 30 June 2025
Programme start: 1 September 2025
Programme end: March 2026
FAQs
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Nothing! Both of our programmes are completely free.
You can also claim your travel costs back for attending training and any job interviews with our partner employers, so long as you live within reasonable commuting distance of central London. You can claim travel expenses on public transport only up to a maximum of £30 per day. We’ll also reimburse you up to £8 for lunch on any full days you spend at training where lunch is not provided.
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We’ll ask you a few questions in your application form that will help us to understand your socioeconomic background. Here are a few key points:
You must have been to a state school throughout your education to be eligible for our programme.
If you were eligible for Free School Meals (even if you didn’t claim them), you are eligible for our programme.
We’ll also ask you what job the highest earner in your household had when you were aged about 14 years old. This question helps us to understand your household income and your exposure to professional opportunities.
Finally, we’ll ask you whether your parents or carers graduated from university. Again, this helps us to understand your background.
We take all of your answers to these questions into consideration when considering your eligibility to our programme.
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If you join the Core programme you must be able and willing to commute into London for job interviews as well as an in-person day once a month (we call these ‘Transition to Work days’ and you can read more about them below). You can claim your travel costs back to a maximum of £30 per day, so long as you live within reasonable commuting distance of central London.
If you join the Online programme you do not have to live in London.
On both programmes, our partner employers are based in London. If you land a role with them, most will require you to come into the office at least 2-3 days a week. Therefore, to be considered for these opportunities you will need to be able to commute. Remember that once you’re in a job, you’ll have to pay for your commute out of your salary.
If you are not able to commute to London, you may still join the online programme and we will support you in looking for employment that’s suitable to your location. -
We prioritise those facing the biggest barriers to employment. Therefore, we will also ask you to confirm whether any of the following criteria apply. This helps us to understand your situation and ensure we’re reaching those who need our support the most.
You were/are a Refugee or Asylum Seeker
You’ve experienced homelessness
You were in care as a child
You are disabled, including being neurodivergent or mental health conditions
You are ethnically minoritised
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We have no minimum grade requirements, but we do ask you to tell us what qualifications you have to help us understand your situation.
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Yes, we’d recommend applying for our Online Programme.
The majority of programme participants on our Core Programme are not graduates. We tend to prioritise those who don’t have degrees, because so many employers exclude them from opportunities.
If you’d like to apply, it’s important you make a really clear case as to why you think the programme is the right fit for you, especially if you have a 2:1 or above from a Russell Group university.
Still got questions? Please take a look at our comprehensive list of FAQs here.
Ready to apply?
Click here to apply for the programme you think is best for you!
Applications for the online programme close 2 June; applications for the core programme close 30 June.
Q&A Sessions
We’re holding Q&A sessions for Young People and Youth Workers to find out more about our programmes. Sign up here.