Youth Careers Awards 2026 Winners

– Careers professional of the year
Recognising the vitally important role and impact of Careers Leads and those who have excelled in the past year.

Winner: Aga Sitarz (Belvue Special School)

– Business partner of the year
Celebrating the most impactful and sustained business partnerships, without whom none of our work would be possible.

Winner: Novotel, Brentford

– Work experience provider of the year
Acknowledging employers’ commitment towards excellence and the highest quality work experience placements.

Winner: London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust

– Work placement young person of the year
Recognising young people who have gone above and beyond during their placements, including work experience, internships and T Level placements.

Winners: Zahra Darr (Milley Hair Lounge) and Walid Tarzan (Nxt Generation)

– School and business partnership of the year
Highlighting the amazing, productive and meaningful partnerships between schools and employers, upon which excellent employability programmes and activities rely.

Winners: Space Studio and Framestore

– SEND or alternative provision partnership initiative of the year
Celebrating the brilliant programmes and partnerships working to support young people with the most significant barriers to entering employment.

Winners: Springhallow School and JCDecaux

– Volunteer of the year
Celebrating our hundreds of employee volunteers’ contribution and commitment to employability skills development and employment opportunities for young people.

Winner: Sid Sidhu (Capgemini)

– Mentor and mentee of the year
Recognising the powerful and impactful mentoring relationships at the heart of our Pathways Partnership Programme.

Winners: Lizzie Beale (Heathrow) and Shaista Suffee (Bisohpshalt School)

– Young leader of the year
Acknowledging and celebrating the commitment and hard work of our Young Associates and young leaders.

Winner: Maryam Yusuf

– Special recognition award
Celebrating and recognising the long-term commitment and tireless determination of an individual supporting young people and their employment prospects.

Winner: Tracy Aust