Find out about

How We Help
Young Leaders

If you’re a young person eager to benefit from the opportunities we provide and our ‘fairer future for all’ ethos, you should join our membership.

the leaders club

Why you should join the Young Leaders Club

  • Expand your network, connect with professionals and businesses in a variety of industries.
  • Gain hands-on experience in different locations, businesses and industries.
  • Develop your knowledge through workshops, programmes, accreditations and certifications.
  • Receive support, direction and guidance from your mentor.
  • Pursue further education, training, and take that first step towards your career.

We understand how difficult it can be for young adults to develop their careers and gain the education they need to reach their full potential. We aim to provide support so all of our young leaders can achieve the future they deserve.

Our Programmes:

We unlock Birmingham’s talent through a dual-program approach:

  • Project Uplift 

    Supports NEET (16-25) with a 3-month hybrid program, focusing on soft skills, digital capabilities, and employer connections to secure meaningful employment or training.

    • Project Promote

    Empowers underrepresented professionals already in jobs with advanced skills and confidence to achieve leadership roles and promotions using our 12 month in-person program + Open university access

EQ in Leadership, The Young Leaders Club, Kul Mahay

Leading with Emotional Intelligence

view more info

Turning up with purpose

view more info
Goal Setting, Young Leaders Club

Goal Setting Workshop

view more info
the leaders club

YLC Mentorship

Our mentors are experienced professionals with years of hands-on experience and knowledge in a variety of industries. Their aim is to provide ongoing support, guidance and advice, to help our young leaders achieve their full potential.

Benefits include:

  • Gain knowledge and skills from an industry professional.
  • Learn to think independently, work on your own initiative and have confidence in your problem-solving and decision-making skills.
  • Develop a trusting and open relationship with a professional in the workplace.
  • Have more direction in your chosen career and/or educational path.
  • Take control of your own journey.

Features of our Mentorship Programme

  • Building a Profile

    Create a strong profile to connect with the right mentor or mentee. Share your background, skills, and development goals to ensure an ideal match.
    - Complete your profile and bio
    - Share your development goals
    - Highlight your skills and experience

  • Dashboard

    Your personalised dashboard is your hub for all mentoring activities. Track all your mentoring relationships (Loops) and build your personal advisory board.
    - Your home for mentoring
    - View all your Loops in one place
    - Build your personal advisory board

  • Milestones

    Monitor the progress of each mentoring relationship, recognising that each Loop will be at different stages in the mentoring lifecycle.
    - Keep track of each mentoring relationship
    - Know your next steps towards success
    - Receive mentoring advice for every stage

  • The Young Leaders Club equips you with all the tools needed to succeed in your mentoring journey. Join us and start building your future today.

  • Meetings, Notes, and Goals

    Effortlessly manage meetings, agendas, notes, and goals.
    - Set your availability with robust two-way calendar integrations (Google, iCal, Office 365, Exchange, Outlook)
    - Use note templates for effective note-taking
    - Set SMART goals and tasks
    - Check off tasks and track your progress
    - Share your progress with your mentor or mentee

  • Matching

    Finding the perfect match is made easy with several options:
    - Browse profiles using Self-match
    - Choose a Recommended Match
    - Leave the matching to your Program Coordinator
    - Utilise our Smart Match algorithm

Join as a Young Leader

To join the Young Leader’s Club, all you need to do is express an interest via our web form. We are happy to support young leaders from underrepresented communities. 

Supported by

Phil Hocking

Ambassador

Phil Hocking is a storyteller, educator, and creative force whose journey spans continents and careers. From teaching in classrooms across Europe and Asia to cooking in vibrant kitchens, Phil has always sought to connect, inspire, and uplift through culture and communication.
 
Now based in the UK and working as Next Generation Talent Consultant for Lloyds Bank, Phil is a celebrated advocate for inclusion and youth empowerment, recognised as a REACH (Race Ethnic & Cultural Heritage Network) Role Model, Apprentice Ambassador, and BOLD (Black Organisation for Leadership & Development) Regional Lead. His work blends performance, poetry, and public speaking, often spotlighting themes of identity, resilience, and transformation.
 
Whether mentoring young talent, hosting cultural showcases, or crafting spoken word pieces, Phil brings heart, humour, and humanity to every stage he steps on. He believes in the power of storytelling to change lives—and lives that belief every day.

Cllr Waseem Zaffar MBE JP 

Ambassador

Waseem Zaffar is a social justice campaigner, an advocate for a better environment, a political activist, father of three boys and an excited Aston Villa season ticket holder. Born and bought up in Lozells, he has served as its Councillor since 2011. On Birmingham City Council he has served as the Cabinet lead for transport, environment, clean air, climate change, highways, equalities, social justice, community safety and creating a cohesive city.
As well as being the Director of Midlands Community Solutions CIC, Waseem is a Board Member of The Active Wellbeing Society and Associate Director of the Clean Air Justice Network.

Waseem was for many years a Justice of Peace on the Birmingham & Solihull bench, as well as the CEO of a Handsworth not-for-profit organisation. His community work has been recognised by several awards including an MBE for services to the voluntary sector.

He also served for eight years as a Non-Executive Director of Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust, which includes City Hospital, where he was born. At the Trust, he chaired the Charity Funds Committee and Integration Committee. He previously served as a Director of Birmingham International Airport and the West Side Business Improvement District.

Waseem is Chair of Governors at Heathfield Primary School, which he attended as a child and where his sons are pupils today. Always a proud Brummie, Waseem developed the successful Birmingham Heritage Week which has just completed its tenth year. The projects promote the Birmingham story over many years and the learning, achievements and contributions of the communities that have come, gone and stayed in brilliantly diverse Birmingham.

During his time on Birmingham City Council, Waseem has led on developing several high profile projects including the Birmingham Clean Air Zone, the Birmingham Transport Plan, Route to Zero Climate Change Action Plan, Perry Barr Transport Transformation, Birmingham Clean Air Strategy and Birmingham Heritage Week.


Tash Pennant

Ambassador

Tash is a trusted advisor, international speaker, and phenomenal connector

Her effervescent approach to life and business means that she is one of today's leaders that not only says she assists, but motivates other people to support and enrich the lives of others. This is key to what we do at The Young Leaders Club. Tash runs Tash Pennant Consultancy Ltd where she provides support for individuals and businesses to connect to information and opportunities.

Her experience working across many sectors with leaders to understand organisational challenges means she has unique expertise in understanding people and the know-how to provide solutions which bring transformational success. These skills and qualities are why we are delighted to have Tash join The Young Leaders Club as one of our Ambassadors.

Allia Khan

Ambassador

Allia Khan is a dynamic legal professional and entrepreneur with a proven track record of leadership in the in-house legal sector. As the Head of Legal at a thriving organisation, she combines strategic insight, practical solutions, and a deep commitment to fostering excellence in the workplace. Known for her ability to navigate complex challenges, Allia ensures her teams and clients achieve success with integrity and efficiency.

Beyond her legal expertise, Allia is the founder of Mansion 28, a luxury fashion brand that redefines boldness and elegance through its striking collections. With Mansion 28, Allia is empowering women to make an impact, blending timeless designs with modern confidence. Passionate about creating spaces for growth and meaningful conversations, Allia frequently speaks on topics such as mental health, work-life balance, and leadership, inspiring others to embrace authenticity and resilience in high-performance environments.

Her entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with her dedication to empowering others, defines her as a thought leader in both the legal and creative industries.
Santina Bunting

Santina Bunting

Ambassador

Santina Bunting stands out as a trailblazer; she was the only one out of 150 students to embark on an apprenticeship journey after GCSEs. She completed her Level 3 Civil Engineering Apprenticeship at Arup in two years, earning a Distinction*Distinction* in her BTEC. Now a qualified Technician with the Institute of Civil Engineers, Santina is in her second year of a Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship at Warwick University whilst also working at Arup
 
Within her role Santina is responsible for database management, drawing production and engineering analysis and has had the opportunity to work on  a range of major infrastructure projects both nationally and internationally.
 
Santina was recently the Youngest overall winner of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the year 2024 in its 24-year history as well as Apprentice of the year winner. She was also the Construction Excellence G4C Apprentice of the Year 2024 and won Highly Commended in the Engineering category of the Multicultural apprenticeship awards 2023.
 
Passionate about empowering apprentices, Santina has spoken at esteemed venues such as the House of Lords and the Annual Apprenticeship Conference, also contributing to the UCAS Apprenticeship Advisory group and the government recent skills for life campaign

Casey Bailey

Ambassador

Casey Bailey is an award winning writer, performer and educator, born and raised in Nechells, Birmingham, UK. Casey was the Birmingham Poet Laureate 2020 - 2022.

Casey’s second full poetry collection Please Do Not Touch was published by Burning Eye in 2021. In 2023 ‘Legacy’ - an in depth exploration of 20 years of the Birmingham Grime and Hip Hop scene - co-authored with Jess Monroe was published. Casey’s debut play GrimeBoy had a sold out run at the Birmingham Rep in April, 2022. He was commissioned by the BBC to write ‘The Ballad of The Peaky Blinders’ in 2019. In 2020 the poem was internationally recognised, winning a Webby Award. In 2022 Casey won a Royal Television Society award for a film for his poem “Dear Brum”. Casey has performed his poetry nationally, and internationally.

Casey was named as one of the Alfred Fagon Awards’ Black Champions of Theatre in 2021. He is a Fellow of the University of Worcester and in 2021 was awarded an honorary doctorate in Education by Newman University.

Zoe Bennett, BEM

Ambassador

Zoe Bennett,BEM, widely known as The Motivational Queen, is an accomplished international speaker and Mindset Resilience Coach, celebrated for her steadfast "never give up" ethos. 

Specialising in personal mindset development, employability, and entrepreneurship, Zoe has secured numerous contracts from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), empowering participants to take charge of their career aspirations. Through her partnership with NatWest, she has also guided countless business owners to elevate their ventures to new heights.

As the Founder of the star-studded MBCC Awards, which reaches an impressive 3.9 million people and continues to expand annually, Zoe honours unsung heroes while inspiring others to excel. 

Her TEDx talk motivates audiences to break free from self-limiting beliefs, reinforcing her passion for helping individuals become the best versions of themselves.

Zoe is also the owner of Training Personified Ltd, a personal development company serving the corporate sector. She delivers impactful programmes on leadership, equity, diversity, inclusion, customer service, conflict and change management, resilience, confidenceThe organisation also manages and delivers contracts for the welfare to work sector, driving participants toward meaningful employment and transformative workplace improvements.