What a year 2025 has been so far, and it just gets bigger and better – we are so excited to announce that we are expanding our wide range of specialist programmes, courses and events into the Leeds area this September just in time for the Autumn term! 

We have long had our sights on bringing our innovative programmes to the Leeds city region, having delivered previous programmes and events there, we’ve seen that we can have a strong and positive impact on the region and make a lasting difference in the lives of the young people there, empowering and equipping them with the skills they need to thrive in a fast-changing world. 

Our vision for Leeds is clear: to help young people build confidence, become young changemakers, develop entrepreneurial mindsets, and create a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

We believe that every young person has the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, and we work hard to level the playing field by connecting talent to opportunity, tackling inequalities, using their voice for the good of all, and promoting social justice. 

Bringing our mindset, skills and knowledge to Leeds is an exciting new journey for us at Unloc, building upon our dedicated teams in London and Portsmouth, and widening our reach. Our facilitators will be based in Leeds City Centre, ensuring that our programmes are responsive to the local needs and aspirations of young people in the area. 

The vibrant and rich culture of Leeds is the perfect place for Unloc to expand our reach and provide exciting new opportunities, programmes and events to young people in the area.

How will local people and industry be involved?

Firmly believing in the power of partnerships, we’ll work closely with local youth organisations, businesses, industry, and the local authority to ensure that programmes complement existing efforts in the community. We are already incredibly proud to be partnered with Burberry, based in the City Centre, and are also working with the Luminate Education Group, by collaborating with local partners we can amplify their impact and create a more supportive network for young people to grow and flourish.

Volunteers from local businesses will play an active role in our programme roll-out. These volunteers will bring real-world knowledge and expertise to Unloc’s initiatives, providing young people with valuable insights into the world of work, behind the scenes experience across a range of industries, and the ability to connect and communicate with professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds and careers.

What are our goals in Leeds?

Unloc will be based in Leeds City Centre, ensuring that programmes and events will be easily accessible for young people in the region

How we will achieve our vision in Leeds

We will be taking a multi-faceted approach to empower young people in Leeds, tailoring our programmes to the needs of the young people in the region, reaching all ages and levels of knowledge. This will involve a series of dynamic Changemaker Challenge Days for both Primary and Secondary Schools, Enterprise Events aimed at growing the mind of an entrepreneur, Changemaker Moments Events and Leadership Bootcamps.

Each event is focused on developing confidence, an entrepreneurial mindset, employability skills, incubating a ‘changemaker outlook’, and encouraging career aspirations. They’ll enjoy skills workshops, learn from professionals, engage with reverse-mentoring, develop core employability skills, network with local entrepreneurs and develop the mindset of a changemaker – recognising how to make positive change and effect impact in their communities and wider society.

These skills will help empower young people and connect diverse talent with industry, networking with professionals and career experts, and creating clear pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, and being an empowered changemaker.

Unloc’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Hayden Taylor

How can local businesses in Leeds get involved?

Unloc’s programmes and events offer businesses, industry, partners and entrepreneurs an opportunity to make a tangible, positive impact on the community while also reaping the benefits of increased visibility and engagement.

Sponsor an Unloc programme or event and become an active part in nurturing young talent and empowering young people. Your sponsorship helps Unloc to deliver their vision – offering young people exclusive opportunities and connections with industry which inspires and empowers them on their career path.

It also gives you the opportunity to engage your employees with a greater aim, share knowledge and experience, champion your brand, and raise awareness of your journey, what you do and what you stand for. The inspiration and motivation your knowledge and experience can provide to young people is invaluable.

Download our free changemaker toolkit