The Lord Mayor’s Appeal has formed a strategic partnership with the Sompo Foundation to help young people across the UK gain the knowledge, skills and real-world experience needed for meaningful employment. The collaboration focuses on expanding access to opportunity, support and resources for young people, including those facing barriers to work. It brings the philanthropic arm of Sompo International Holdings Ltd. into the Appeal’s renewed focus on employability and the UK’s growing population of young people not in education, employment or training. The partnership also links Sompo’s continued growth in the UK and London market with investment in local communities.

A Focus On Youth Employment

The Lord Mayor’s Appeal equips young people with employability skills, work experience and routes into employment. Its work is focused on the estimated one million young people who are not in education, employment or training, often referred to as NEET.

Through the convening power of the Lady or Lord Mayor, the Appeal brings together City organisations to reduce barriers to work and connect young people with practical opportunities. The new partnership with the Sompo Foundation is intended to add further support and resources to that mission, with a particular focus on helping young people build the confidence and experience required to progress.

The arrangement reflects a shared commitment to inclusive communities. Rather than treating employment solely as an economic outcome, the partnership centres on the access, knowledge and support that can help young people identify and pursue opportunities suited to their potential.

Faith Frank, Executive Director at Sompo Foundation, said:

“Through the Sompo Foundation, we are proud to support The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, and contribute to work that expands opportunities for young people who may not otherwise have access to the support, skills and pathways they need to thrive in the City of London and beyond.“

Investment Alongside Growth

Sompo Foundation was established in 2023 as the philanthropic arm of Sompo International Holdings Ltd., a global provider of property, casualty and specialty insurance and reinsurance. The Foundation supports social causes through charitable efforts, strategic investments and targeted support for priority issues in the communities where Sompo operates.

For the organisation, the partnership provides a direct connection between its UK business presence and community investment. It is designed to support young people in London and beyond while reinforcing the wider resilience of communities in which Sompo’s people live and work.

Faith Frank, Executive Director at Sompo Foundation, stated:

“As Sompo continues to grow its business across the UK and London market, the Foundation plays an important role in ensuring that growth is accompanied by meaningful investment in the communities where we live and work. This partnership reflects that connection and commitment by supporting initiatives that improve outcomes for young people and reinforce the resilience of the wider community.”

City Collaboration And Opportunity

The partnership arrives as The Lord Mayor’s Appeal begins what it describes as a new chapter, concentrating its energy and resources on youth employment. Business participation is central to that model, providing young people with access to insight, work experience and potential employment opportunities that can be difficult to reach without professional networks.

For employers, this type of collaboration creates a practical route to contribute to social change through the capabilities, relationships and resources already present within the business community. The Appeal’s model positions the City as a source of opportunity for young people who may otherwise be excluded from established pathways into work.

David Johnston OBE, Chief Executive at The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, said:

“We are delighted to welcome the Sompo Foundation as a partner. Their support comes as we launch an exciting new chapter to focus our energy and resources on one of the defining challenges facing the UK. By partnering with businesses committed to driving social change, we can help more young people develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to secure meaningful opportunities to develop and thrive.”

Building Routes Into Work

Young people who are outside education, employment and training can face overlapping barriers, from limited access to work experience to a lack of confidence or professional contacts. The Lord Mayor’s Appeal’s employability focus seeks to address those barriers by connecting young people with the experience and support needed to move closer to work.

Sompo Foundation’s contribution gives the Appeal another committed business partner as it develops this work. The collaboration is a constructive example of corporate philanthropy being directed towards practical social outcomes: widening access to skills, building confidence and opening pathways to meaningful employment.

The partnership signals a sustained focus on helping more young people participate in the economy and in their communities. By combining the Appeal’s City-wide convening role with Sompo Foundation’s community investment, the organisations are aiming to create stronger routes into opportunity for young people across the UK.