Businesses reach out to young people at Merseyside event

Businesses across the North West have met with youth organisations at a networking event designed to build partnerships which can make a difference to young people.

The Liverpool event attracted organisations from across the region including Barclays, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, John Lewis, Trinity Mirror, QVC, and smaller employers.

Martin Gaunt, regional sales manager at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, said: "This was a really useful event. I made some great contacts who can help our business connect with local young people. I will be working hard to turn the conversations I had here into active partnerships."

Among the youth organisations which took part were Barnardo's, Merseyside Youth Association, On Side, The Rotunda, St Helens Youth Service and Youth Federation.

Gill Bainbridge, chief executive of Merseyside Youth Association, said: "It can sometimes be hard for us to identify businesses that want to back our work so to have a group of them in the same room was fantastic. We are always on the lookout for new supporters and I think I've met several of them here today."

The event forms part of United Futures, a Government-funded initiative which aims to increase business engagement with the youth sector across England.

It is led by charities Business In The Community, National Children's Bureau and UK Youth.

The Liverpool event was hosted free of charge by Starbucks which is also supporting other events across the country.