It began with a small cohort — and a mix of excitement and apprehension. Sarah Findlater, now People Director at Marks & Spencer, was then the HR manager at the retailer’s flagship Marble Arch store, and still vividly remembers the day that first group of eight young people walked through the door 21 years ago.
“We had agreed with The King’s Trust — then The Prince’s Trust — to take a group of hard-to-reach young Londoners from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds who had been through their courses,” said Sarah. “The idea was to offer a four-week placement to build their work skills, boost confidence, and provide wrap-around support. The hope was to give them a foot on the ladder — and possibly hire some of them. Our Marble Arch store was one of several involved in this process.”
