KPMG Birmingham opened its doors to young people from the Birmingham Youth Justice Service, giving them a real-world introduction to a professional working environment and helping to raise their aspirations.
The visit forms part of KPMG UK’s Opening Doors to Opportunities initiative, which aims to reach one million young people from lower-socio economic backgrounds with opportunities to develop their skills for the world of work.
The collaboration comes at a time when recent Government figures show that the West Midlands has one of the highest proportions of young people (16–24‑year‑olds) who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) or whose activity is not known, with Birmingham alone reporting a combined rate of 6.4%.
Andrew Bostock, Birmingham office senior partner at KPMG UK, said: “Opening Doors to Opportunities is central to our commitment to improving social mobility. Meeting the young people from Birmingham Youth Justice Service and hearing their stories firsthand was incredibly inspiring. By welcoming them into our office, we wanted to show them what’s possible and help build confidence in their own potential.
“We believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. That’s why we’re focused on creating meaningful experiences that broaden horizons and build skills. I’m proud we can help open doors and support young people across our region as they take their next steps toward a brighter future.”
The event is now in its second iteration, following the inaugural session held in October 2025. The day featured an office tour, opportunities to observe different departments, and interactive group sessions designed to develop key skills such as teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving. It also included a warm welcome from a former participant, who attended the experience last year, and returned this time as a peer mentor for the new cohort.
Michael Olajide, youth justice worker at Birmingham Youth Justice Service, said: “Through initiatives like this, we see young people gaining confidence, broadening their aspirations and engaging with opportunities they may never have considered before. Being welcomed into professional environments helps them recognise their own potential and can be a meaningful turning point in their journey.
“We’ve already seen the impact these programmes can have. Young people who take part consistently show increased confidence, stronger aspirations, and a clearer sense of direction about their futures. It’s these meaningful experiences that help them recognise their potential and make steps toward lasting change.”
