About Kick Start Careers CIC
Creating Opportunities. Building Confidence. Changing Futures.
At Kick Start Careers CIC, we believe that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.
For many young people and students, where they grow up can have a significant impact on the opportunities available to them. Access to professional networks, career guidance, work experience, mentoring and employer connections is often unevenly distributed, leaving many capable individuals at a disadvantage before they have even started their careers.
We exist to ensure that young people, students and those at the start of their careers can access the knowledge, support and opportunities they need to make informed decisions about their future and successfully transition into education, training or employment.
Our purpose is simple: to help bridge the opportunity gap.
As a Community Interest Company, our focus is on social value rather than profit. We work alongside educational institutions, employers, community organisations and funding partners to create meaningful pathways that help individuals discover their potential, develop essential employability skills and build confidence in their abilities.
The Barriers We're Working to Overcome
Our programmes are designed to address some of the challenges young people face when entering the labour market.
Limited Professional Networks
Not everyone has access to professional role models, mentors or industry connections who can help open doors.
Career Pathway Awareness
Young people may be unaware of the different industries, qualifications and career routes available to them.
Confidence & Aspirations
Low confidence and limited exposure to opportunities can prevent individuals from recognising their potential.
Work Experience Barriers
Securing relevant work experience and gaining exposure to professional environments can be challenging.
Employability Skills Gaps
The transition from education into employment can be difficult without practical workplace skills and guidance.
Financial & Social Disadvantages
Financial pressures and social circumstances can restrict access to training, opportunities and career development.
Through tailored employability support, mentoring, employer engagement, career workshops, work experience opportunities and practical career guidance, we help individuals develop the skills, behaviours and confidence needed to succeed in an increasingly competitive world of work.
We recognise that every journey is different. Whether someone is considering university, seeking an apprenticeship, entering employment or exploring alternative career routes, our role is to provide support that is accessible, inclusive and responsive to individual needs.
By investing in young people today, we can contribute to stronger communities, more inclusive workplaces and a more skilled workforce for tomorrow.
Meet our team
Meet the people behind Kick Start Careers CIC, bringing together experience in education, business, public service and graduate employability.
Jan Hudson
Director and Trustee
Commercial leadership, community programmes and public service
Jan brings experience in banking, business development, charitable fundraising and the justice system. Her work combines employer insight with a strong commitment to social mobility.
Read Jan’s full profile ↓
Banking & business
Extensive experience in sales leadership, customer relationships, strategic partnerships and business growth, providing insight into the skills employers value.
Community impact
Fundraised for the NSPCC and delivered Life Skills programmes through children’s centres in disadvantaged areas of South Wakefield. Approximately 73% of participants progressed into full-time paid employment, while all participants improved aspects of their home circumstances through budgeting and conflict-resolution skills.
Justice & young people
Served as a Justice of the Peace and Chair Magistrate in Adult and Youth Courts, gaining first-hand insight into deprivation, educational barriers and limited access to positive role models.
Role at Kick Start Careers CIC
Jan helps guide the CIC’s strategy and commitment to measurable, lasting opportunities for disadvantaged and underrepresented young people.
Helen Waudby
Director and Trustee
Education, youth support and business consultancy
Helen brings decades of experience in education, community engagement and business consultancy, with a lifelong commitment to supporting young people facing barriers to achievement.
Read Helen’s full profile ↓
Education & inclusion
Worked as a school-based teacher and Local Education Authority teacher in the Wakefield district, supporting children and families affected by poverty, social exclusion and unequal access to opportunity.
Youth engagement
Worked with the Youth Offending Team on initiatives supporting positive choices and reducing the risk of offending or reoffending. Her experience reinforced the importance of early intervention, positive role models and practical support.
Business consultancy
Helped organisations improve performance, operational effectiveness and people-focused solutions, connecting young people’s development with the expectations of employers.
Role at Kick Start Careers CIC
Helen champions inclusive programmes that raise aspirations, strengthen employability skills and create meaningful progression routes.
Ryan Austin
Director and Trustee
Graduate experience, employability and digital skills
Ryan brings a contemporary perspective shaped by his university experience and his determination to improve the transition from education into meaningful employment.
Read Ryan’s full profile ↓
Student & graduate insight
Saw fellow students face competition for graduate roles, limited industry experience and restricted professional networks, with some accepting work outside their degree discipline.
Career development
Supports initiatives that build confidence, employability skills, career planning and access to work experience, internships and graduate opportunities.
Marketing & digital branding
Brings expertise in marketing, social media and personal branding, including helping young people improve their LinkedIn profiles and communicate their skills to employers.
Role at Kick Start Careers CIC
Ryan helps ensure that the CIC’s programmes reflect the realities of today’s graduate recruitment market and support young people to pursue their ambitions.
Guest speakers and industry specialists may also be invited to contribute to our projects, subject to available funding. Their involvement helps us introduce young people to different careers, experiences and professional perspectives.
A Sustainable Funding Model
At Kick Start Careers CIC, we are committed to building a sustainable organisation that creates long-term opportunities for young people and students.
While grants and charitable investment play an important role in developing and expanding our programmes, we are working towards a model that does not rely solely on external funding.
One Placement. More Opportunities.
When we successfully support a graduate into employment, we invite the recruiting organisation to make a voluntary contribution of £200.
Every contribution received is reinvested into Kick Start Careers CIC to help deliver employability workshops, mentoring, careers guidance and employer engagement activities.
How We Build Long-Term Impact
By bringing together different sources of support, we can create more opportunities while reducing our reliance on any single source of funding.
Grants & Charitable Investment
Grant funding and charitable investment help us develop programmes, reach disadvantaged communities and provide practical support to young people facing barriers to employment.
Partnerships & Collaboration
Working with employers, educational institutions and community organisations helps us share expertise, strengthen professional networks and create meaningful career opportunities.
Voluntary Employer Contributions
Contributions from organisations that successfully recruit graduates through our support help fund future workshops, mentoring and careers activities for other young people.
Every Success Helps Create Future Success
Our approach creates a cycle of social value. By reinvesting contributions into our programmes, we can help more students and young people access the guidance, skills and professional connections they need to achieve their career ambitions.