A groundbreaking initiative developed by Premier Forest Products is being hailed as a model for how businesses across the UK can transform the futures of care-experienced young people.
Two years after launching its Premier Forest Corporate Parenting Programme, Premier Forest has supported 12 young people through tailored work placements, mentoring, and educational support, providing the confidence, structure, and opportunity to move successfully into the world of work.
Working closely with Newport City Council’s Children’s Services, the programme takes on up to six young people each year, offering paid work placements across departments including finance, operations, logistics, and manufacturing.
Each mentee is matched with an in-house mentor and receives wraparound support, including educational tutoring where needed.
In one case, Premier Forest funded one-to-one tuition that led to a dyslexia diagnosis and tailored learning support for a participant, a turning point that allowed them to re-engage with their education.
The initiative has been spearheaded by Premier Forest Co-Founder and CEO Terry Edgell, and the company now plans to expand the programme to its other UK sites.
The Welsh Government has now adopted similar thinking within its own approach to corporate or community parenting and care leaver support.
Community parenting describes the collective responsibility of local authorities, and, increasingly, their partner organisations, to ensure the wellbeing, development, and success of children and young people in care. It means acting in their best interests, providing stability, opportunity, and support throughout their transition into adulthood.
“As a business, we have always believed that commercial success comes with social responsibility," says Terry Edgell. "The idea behind our corporate parenting programme is simple: if we can give these young people the same care, encouragement, and structure we would give our own children, we can change their life chances.
“What started as a local pilot in Newport has become something much bigger. We are seeing the tangible difference this makes.
“Young people are now thriving, working, and believing in themselves again. Our goal is to roll this out nationally, and to inspire other employers to do the same.”
