“Apprenticeships are critical for enabling social mobility, however, too many disadvantaged young people cannot capitalise on what they offer, falling at the first hurdle of a challenging and complex application process. That’s why Causeway’s initiative is so needed and building off their fantastic OSCAR platform that supports progression to higher education is a brilliant way to address this huge need.”
Gina Cicerone and Sam Butters, Co-CEO’s Fair Education Alliance
About Causeway Education and Aron Rouse, lead intrapreneur:
Causeway’s work revolves around supporting students to overcome barriers to progression. They provide young people (and their supporters) with practical tools, strategies advice and guidance.
Causeway has won the Intrapreneurship Award to develop their online pathway to support students to produce a competitive, tailored apprenticeship application. Whilst apprenticeships provide an opportunity for social mobility, the application process can be a barrier. Through the online platform, students will also be able to communicate with a sector professional, drawing on their insights and expertise to improve decision-making and confidence building. Intervention is needed to avoid exacerbating the progression gap.
Aron Rouse is the lead intrapreneur. After graduating with a sport science degree, he became a coach and progressed to managing a school partnerships department. Having broadened his horizons, he was keen to operate on a national level, which led him to the NCS and then Causeway Education, where he is now one of the Programme Managers.
Aron says, “I am driven by providing young people with experiences that help them to make effective decisions. Over the next year, we hope to draw on expertise, finalise digital development and pilot our ideas with a diverse selection of students.”