What is YES?

keyboard_arrow_down

We believe every young person should have the opportunity to spend a year doing paid environmental work.

YES exists to enable accessible new opportunities for young people in the environmental sector, helping them develop the skills, connections, and confidence they need to fight the climate emergency, together.

The problem

Despite overwhelming calls for more action, the UK still lacks the funding, skills, and capacity needed to meet its environmental targets. 

For young people, this inaction leaves them facing an environmental catastrophe that will dominate the rest of
their lives.

They want to be part of the solution but find themselves without the opportunities and belief that they can make a
real impact. 

Young man in a grey sweatshirt and black hatbent down planting a tree

The environmental talent pipeline is broken.

There are too few opportunities available for too few people, pathways into the sector are unclear and unfair, and organisations are missing out on the diverse talent needed to address the issues we’re facing.

The next generation deserves accessible, hands-on work opportunities where they can build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become the environmental leaders we need to create a better future for our planet.

Yellow blob with statistic on top reading: '700,000 new green jobs are expected to be created (and will need filling) in the UK by 2030.'

How it works

We’re going to fix the environmental talent pipeline by empowering organisations to create exciting, accessible, entry-level opportunities.

We’re streamlining pathways into the sector, connecting young people to these opportunities and supporting them to thrive within them.

  • Diagram of the 'Pre-employment' phase of our programme. For trainees there's awareness and engagement and accessible recruitment and employers receive funding support and access diverse talent
  • Diagram of during employment phase of our programme where trainees
  • Diagram of the 'Pre-employment' phase of our programme. For trainees there's awareness and engagement and accessible recruitment and employers receive funding support and access diverse talent
  • Diagram of during employment phase of our programme where trainees

The benefits

Environmental

The work our trainees are doing right now—from nature recovery to environmental education—will lead to immediate and long-term environmental benefits.

After the programme, trainees will build careers as
well-rounded environmentalists, both within the sector and beyond, and their positive impact will only continue to grow.

Two young adults holding a small plant and forming a ball of soil around it

Economic

Throughout the year trainees build valuable, skills that they can transfer to future roles, helping to develop a skilled and productive environmentally-focused workforce that can shape future economic growth.

We also have an opportunity going forward to target
our investments into communities where we can
tackle major economic inequalities and
environmental concerns.

A group of young adults in a room smiling at someone off camera

Health

On our programme trainees typically see improvements in their mental health and wellbeing. They gain more stability through paid employment, improve their connection with nature, and become part of a community of peers facing similar experiences and challenges - all whilst actively contributing towards a brighter future. 

Young man with ginger hair kneeling down working on a vegetable patch

Social

Our programme is designed to create opportunities for young people from diverse and underrepresented communities to thrive within the environmental sector.

We support organisations to create accessible and inclusive environments where trainees can succeed, while also connecting trainees across communities to build a healthier and better connected society.

Two young adults smiling

Want to find out more?