Progression Coach

ThinkForward
Progression Coach
Job information pack

About ThinkForward

ThinkForward exists to support young people to create better and brighter futures. We want them to
be able to identify, realise and shape their aspirations and be ready to make a successful transition
into work.

Young people experiencing barriers such as challenging relationships, living in low-income
households, or growing up in areas with a lack of access to opportunities can be confronted with
hurdles. Without the right support, these barriers can lead to a high risk of unemployment and
long-term effects on career and life chances.

There are more than 900,000 16-24-year-olds in the UK who are not at school or college, or don’t
have a job or training place. Our ambition is to prevent young people becoming one of these
statistics.

In 2026, we will be supporting more than 1,500 young people.

For more information on ThinkForward, our vision and mission, our programmes and equalities
manifesto, please visit our website.

Our values

Our values are more than words; they are the principles that guide our actions and decisions every
day. By embodying these values, we create a positive and empowering environment for ourselves,
our colleagues, and the young people we serve.

Read more about how our values are embedded in our work here.

EDI Manifesto

ThinkForward is committed to being a place where all can thrive. We place equity, diversity and
inclusion at the heart of all we do as an employer, in our work with young people and within our
sphere of influence. We value authenticity, compassion, collaboration, inclusion and innovation, and
are intentional about underpinning these values with equity, diversity and inclusion practices.

We are working to create a world where our young people are more likely to thrive, and the absence
of uniformity is considered a strength. We are wholeheartedly committed to continuously learning,
challenging the status quo and creating a space where people’s ethnicity, gender, age, sexual
orientation, religious beliefs, disabilities, learning abilities or socio-economic origins are not the
defining characteristics of their potential for success. We ensure that all voices are heard and that each
person’s strengths are valued and utilised.

To embed our manifesto into ThinkForward practices, our EDI group is committed to continuous
implementation and monitoring of key areas including representation, learning and education, policies
and procedures, and accountability.

Our principles

ThinkForward is  committed  to  safeguarding  and  promoting  the  welfare of  children,  young  people,
and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment.

ThinkForward is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals
are  encouraged  regardless  of  age, disability,  sex,  gender  identity,  sexual  orientation,  pregnancy
and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

As a registered Disability Confident employer, ThinkForward has an accessible recruitment process.
We offer interviews to all applicants who meet the job requirements and who declare themselves as
having a disability. If you need support, such as materials in larger print, dyslexic-friendly fonts or
adjustments for the interview, please contact jobs@thinkforward.org.uk and we will ensure you have
what you require to successfully complete this process.

About our programmes

The FutureMe programme provides five years of
personalised coaching and employability
activities to get young people ready for the world
of work. Coaches build trusted relationships,
supporting young people to take control, find
solutions to challenges, develop skills and
create a positive vision for their future.

Specialised ready for work activities support
young people to get familiar with the workplace,
become inspired and identify a pathway to their
chosen career. We run this programme in 15
schools in North and East London, Nottingham
and Kent.

About our programmes

The Work Forward programme operates in
London, Kent, and Nottingham, working with
young adults aged 16 – 24 who reside in low-
income households to support them into
sustainable paid employment.

The programme provides young people with a
specialist Progression Coach for up to one year.
Coaches offer support through one-to-one
coaching sessions, group workshops and
facilitating employer connections.

Young people on the programme have access to a
range of support to help them identify their future
aspirations, develop their skills, access peer
support, and ultimately secure paid employment.

About our programmes

The Future Leaders programme works with
young Black men and young Black and Asian
women that are at risk of exclusion or have
been excluded from mainstream school.

In London, young Black students are more likely
to be excluded from school than white British
students and young Black men experience
disproportionately high unemployment rates.

To tackle these issues, Future Leaders supports
Black students in alternative provisions and
schools to make a successful transition into a
post-16 destination, overcome the barriers they
may face such as a lack of networks, social
capital and soft skills, and prepare them to be
ready to find a fulfilling career.

About the role
Our Progression Coaches are at the heart of the ThinkForward initiative. Coaches
provide young people with personalised one-to-one coaching and group activities,
as well as exposure to the world of work and cultural enrichment activities.
Coaching enables young people to overcome challenges holding them back from
achieving their potential and ultimately a safer and more successful pathway into
employment and adulthood. Our young people are supported by ThinkForward for
five years, from 13-18 years old.

Our Progression Coaches project manage the ThinkForward programme within one
of our schools and its local community, ensuring that quality and impact is achieved,
while also managing successful relationships with our partner schools and
businesses.

Applicants should be aware that access to a reliable vehicle is a requirement of this
role.

If this sounds like your kind of role, we want to hear from you!

For job description and person specification details please click here.

Please send your CV and cover letter to jobs@thinkforward.org.uk

Your cover letter should be no more than 2 pages and should outline
your suitability for the role as described in the person specification. If
you require any reasonable adjustments during the application
period, including submitting your application via a telephone call,
please email jobs@thinkforward.org.uk so we can make
arrangements for you.

Early interest is encouraged as we’ll be reviewing applications as
they arrive.

The details

Permanent, Part-Time (0.6 FTE)
£31,327 pro rata per annum (£18,786 per annum)

Contract:
Salary:
Start Date:              June/July 2026
Location:
Closing Date:          19th April 2026
Interviews:              1st stage 24/04/2026, 2nd stage 04/05/2026

New Romney, Kent, and the wider Kent community

ThinkForward offer a range of employee benefits including:
• Pro rata 25 days annual leave
• 3 additional days’ leave for office closure days between Christmas and new year
• Up to 2 days’ leave for volunteering or 4 half days to support wellbeing
• A commitment to personal development
• 4.5% employer pension contributions - 1.5% more than the statutory minimum of 3%
•
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discounts and rewards scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Flexible bank holidays

Interest free employee loans

ThinkForward

0300 102 4475

info@thinkforward.org.uk
www.thinkforward.org.uk

Bluesky: @thinkforwarduk.bsky.social
Instagram: @thinkforwarduk
LinkedIn: thinkforward-uk

ThinkForward is a charity registered with the Charity Commission.
Registration number 1152862.