21st October 2025 Sparking a successful partnership in Liverpool
A&O Shearman and The Talent Foundry launch Spark Liverpool to empower local students
In 2025, The Talent Foundry (TTF) and global law firm A&O Shearman launched Spark Liverpool - a new program designed to make opportunity accessible to all. Together, we supported students across the Liverpool City Region, helping them build confidence, skills, and ambition for the future.
Why Liverpool?
Liverpool was chosen as the focus area due to the economic, educational, and employment disparities faced by many young people in the region. As one of England’s most deprived cities (Liverpool City Council), it stood to benefit from a place-based intervention. Young people in Liverpool face significant employment challenges, with employment rates at just 67%, compared with almost two-thirds for the North-West region. Liverpool has one of the highest proportions of 16–17-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) (LGA). Despite a growing job market, skills gaps remain an issue, with high-growth sectors like hospitality, construction, and logistics reporting persistent gaps in employability skills (Novus).
About Spark Liverpool
Spark Liverpool provided early career engagement opportunities to Year 10 students from Liverpool schools, connecting them positively to their community. The program enabled young people to become more aware of their strengths, build confidence, and develop the skills and resilience required to succeed at school and in future careers.
Programme activities
Workshops focused on:
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Identifying and developing transferable skills
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Setting future goals
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Building interview and interpersonal skills
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Recognising personal values
All sessions were delivered through fun and interactive activities, with the support of volunteers who acted as inspirational role models, shared insights into their professional worlds, and offered practical advice.
Voices from Spark Liverpool
Tom McGuffie, Partner at A&O Shearman, shared:
Community investment has always been a core value for A&O Shearman. Through our partnership with The Talent Foundry on Spark Liverpool, we’re helping to unlock access to education and improve life chances for young people. This initiative reflects our broader commitment to building a fairer society - one where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of background. By using our skills to support social mobility and break cycles of poverty, we’re proud to stand alongside local communities in creating lasting impact.
What I really loved about the Spark programme is seeing the growth in the pupils... To give back to the next generation is something that feels very good and right to do... I've loved every minute of it.
A teacher reflected:
For my students in particular, getting them out and about to the amazing settings was a highlight... I know that one of my students, who is really disengaged with education, went home and told his mum about how lovely Liverpool Hope University Campus is and that he wants to go there. Another of my students took photos of all the places and was calling her mum from the town hall to tell her about the chandeliers... For me, watching them I saw how they gained confidence in speaking to adults and interacting with other schools, this is so helpful for them going forward.
Students said:
The people made me become more confident in who I am. All the volunteers have been like absolute angels from above. They’ve been role models to everyone.
There were so many opportunities. Meeting new people and getting out of my comfort zone and getting used to talking to different people.
If I told a friend about Spark Liverpool, I’d probably tell them how fantastic it was, how friendly the volunteers are and how interesting their jobs are.
Impact at a glance
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96% of participants rated the workshops as excellent or good
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81% agreed they could see a pathway to an exciting career after the workshop
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77% left Spark Liverpool feeling more confident about their future
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96% reported being more aware of their own skills and talents
These outcomes show that with the right support, a young person’s horizons can broaden significantly.
The volunteer experience
For A&O Shearman, Spark Liverpool was designed to make a meaningful difference to young people’s lives, particularly those who lack access to a range of career opportunities and professional role models. Volunteers from A&O Shearman and other local employers found that giving their time not only helped build connections with the next generation but also developed their own communication and leadership skills. Many gained a deeper understanding of the barriers facing young people in cities like Liverpool.
Looking ahead
Emma Turnbull, Community Investment Manager at A&O Shearman, said:
We are incredibly proud of the impact Spark Liverpool has had on local students. By working with The Talent Foundry, we’ve been able to extend our social mobility mission and support even more young people in areas of the UK with the lowest levels of social mobility. The commitment and enthusiasm of our volunteers has been truly inspiring.
Spark Liverpool is part of A&O Shearman’s ongoing commitment to social mobility, aiming to extend the geographic reach of their work and enable more young people to benefit from the time and energy of dedicated employees.