Success Story Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU), London

“Our agency developed its first social enterprise at a time when it was winding down its involvement in a large job placement program and handing delivery of that program to a local partner. The agency recognized that it was losing direct access to local businesses and losing control over how its clients were gaining access to the labour market. The challenge facing the agency was to develop a service for business that would allow its clientele to participate directly and gain employment through some of the networking with business customers. The organization created a recycling service targeted to small business and implemented primarily by youth. Through working in the business, the clients gain a hands-on work experience at industry standards and develop networking, sales and other “soft skills”. The program has leveraged increased awareness and support for the agency through the business customers and new partners as well as increasing earned revenues for the agency.”