Some 1,500 young people from across Leicestershire are set to get an innovative careers package delivered straight to their homes.
The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) has joined some of its partners to develop Unbox Your Future (UBYF) - designed to help young people across Leicester and Leicestershire think about their future careers.
Thought to be the first of its kind, it includes items to help a young person research potential career pathways including areas they might not have considered.
Items in the box range from a cardboard VR headset for campus tours, to tea bags to help strike up a careers conversation with a friend, parent or carer, and guides to local and national programmes they could sign up to.
It comes as many young people are having to re-think their future career path due to the impact of Covid-19 on education and industry.
The items in the boxes are targeted particularly at young people aged 16-18 who are not in education employment or training.
Other partners have provided expertise or pledged time and resources, whilst the Careers and Enterprise Company, which works closely with the LLEP on its Enterprise Adviser Network and Careers Hub programmes, has helped fund the project.
One of the key items in the box is a personalised VIP careers voucher, to allow a young person to dial a dedicated number and speak to a qualified careers advisor.
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They can discuss their aspirations and options, which could range from apprenticeships to A-levels, training or university, or even setting up their own business!
Dr Nik Kotecha OBE is chief executive of Loughborough-based Morningside Pharmaceuticals and member of the LLEP board of directors.
He said: “We know that right now, young people face some real challenges and fears about what the future holds for them.
“UBYF is designed so that they can take their time, use some of the items in the box to help stimulate some ideas and decide how they can take that next step through direct action.
"There are a lot of fantastic online opportunities being developed for young people but we know that not everyone has access to the internet.
“UBYF bridges that divide by providing offline resources and signposting to other sources of advice and guidance and opportunity to talk to a real person."
John Yarham, interim CEO of The Careers & Enterprise Company said: “In such a profoundly challenging environment, beset by the consequences of Covid-19, young people’s need for careers support is more acute than ever.
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“It is vitally important for us all to step up the levels of support and guidance available, to help them make the informed choices that can positively influence their futures.
“We’re pleased to be funding this community level response which links powerfully with regional recovery plans and local pathways into work.
“These provide the opportunity to speak directly to young people about their next steps into education, employment or training and the support available.
“We must support our young generation as part of the broader recovery efforts to avoid long-lasting damage to their prospects.”
The LLEP's aim is to let young people know that they are not alone, and inspire them about new and emerging opportunities in sectors including low carbon industries, space research and development and advanced manufacturing.
Partners in the scheme include Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council, LEBC, Pathways Uni Connect Hub, DWP, Employment Hub, Leicestershire Cares, National Citizenship Service, STEM Learning, Connexions, East Midlands Chamber and The Prince’s Trust.
Leicester Racecourse allowed the LLEP to use its conference centre to collate the boxes in a socially distanced environment in line with government guidance.