Inspire Education Group support Youth Voice at Peterborough Youth Futures Summit

Inspire Education Group (IEG) was proud to attend the Peterborough Youth Futures Summit at Sand Martin House, joining young people, employers, local organisations and civic leaders to explore how Peterborough can build a city where ambition meets opportunity and every young person has a fair chance to succeed.

Attendees heard from Danielle Daboh, Youth MP for Peterborough, who shared her personal experiences of navigating career pathways as a young person and why equity must sit at the heart of opportunity. Sam Carling, MP for North West Cambridgeshire, spoke about the importance of partnership working across education, business and local government to drive inclusive growth and support young people into sustainable employment. Leader of Peterborough City Council, Cllr Shabina Qayyum, also delivered a clear call to action to businesses and organisations to “give young people a chance” and invest in developing the future workforce.

A key highlight of the event was the Youth Panel, where young people spoke candidly about their experiences of education and employability. Inspire Education Group was especially proud to see Ewan Morton, Schools Link and 14–16 Pathways Manager, join one of our supported interns on the panel alongside other contributors. Together, they shared her journey with Peterborough College and demonstrated how tailored support, clear guidance and meaningful opportunities have enabled her to progress with confidence towards employment.

The results of the Youth Survey were also shared during the summit, providing valuable youth-led insight into the barriers young people face. Findings highlighted the need for more accessible opportunities, stronger apprenticeship advice, increased work experience provision, clearer guidance and signposting, and visible examples of diverse career pathways. These actionable points align closely with IEG’s ongoing work to expand industry placements, apprenticeships and progression routes across further and higher education.

IEG colleagues from curriculum teams and Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) were present throughout the day to support attendees in exploring their next steps and understanding the opportunities available locally. The event also provided a valuable opportunity to collaborate with partners, including Inspire2Ignite, Peterborough Cultural Alliance, Peterborough Youth Hub and other organisations committed to supporting young people across the region.

The summit reinforced the importance of joined-up, long-term approaches to employability and workforce development. Inspire Education Group will take forward the insights shared to continue strengthening pathways from education into employment, supporting young people to build successful futures while contributing to the growth and resilience of Peterborough’s local economy.