In a powerful collaboration aimed at breaking down barriers to corporate employment, the East End Community Foundation (EECF) recently hosted its latest Youth Employment Support (YES) Day in partnership with international insurer Tokio Marine Kiln (TMK).
The initiative, funded through donations to EECF’s Life Chances campaign, bridges the gap between ambitious young people in East London and major global organisations operating right on their doorstep.
YES was based upon the recommendations of the Impetus Ready for Work report which identified the skills young people need to find and keep work. The project is designed to help young people aged 18-25 who have gained an A-C+ in their Mathematics and English GCSE’s. Some participants may have been unemployed for an extended period or could be at risk of becoming underemployed.
The young people are not over or under achievers, they are in the middle range of achievement and need support. We want to help those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, including participants from ethnically diverse and white working-class backgrounds, who are often overlooked and left behind as they can face multiple barriers to becoming work ready.
The candidates for this event were drawn from Poplar HARCA (Housing and Regeneration Community Association), a registered charity managing 10,000 homes in Poplar and Bow. Beyond its core housing duties, Poplar HARCA is deeply committed to upskilling residents and creating local economic opportunities. The YES Day served as a perfect extension of this mission, offering young participants direct access to the corporate world while equipping them with a comprehensive employability toolkit.
“It was an amazing day I passed with respected people who arranged this YES Day Programme for young working professionals to help us build a strong network. I would like to thank all who were there from Tokio Marine kiln and HARCA to guide us and bring back my confidence again. Hopefully it will be a great journey with you,” said Nusrat Jahan, one of the YES Day participants.
An Inside Look at Global Risk
The event provided attendees with insight into the world of international insurance. Volunteers from TMK—a company specialising in underwriting complex risks, such as insuring aid workers in high-hazard environments—shared their career journeys and offered insight into the insurance industry. For many of the young attendees, the event transformed a corporate sector that previously felt invisible or inaccessible into a tangible career pathway.
The packed itinerary balanced professional development with high-energy interactive sessions. To test teamworking, negotiation, analytical, and presentation skills under pressure, candidates were split into three teams for the popular “Spaghetti Tower Challenge.” Armed only with sticks of spaghetti, tape, string, and playdough, participants were given five minutes to strategise and 20 minutes to construct the tallest freestanding structure—proving that collaboration and communication are just as vital as technical know-how.
Realistic Mock Interviews and Constructive Mentorship
A cornerstone of the day was the mock interview segment, designed to mirror real-world corporate recruitment processes in a supportive, low-pressure environment. Led by TMK professionals, including Project Management Team Manager Ann Smith, the structured 30-minute sessions gave many participants their very first taste of a formal interview.
Interviewers dedicated 20 minutes to evaluating general competencies—focusing on personal motivation, core values, future goals, and professionalism—before dedicating 10 minutes to vital feedback. Using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) methodology, TMK volunteers provided constructive guidance, highlighting individual strengths in communication and gently offering actionable advice on how to structure answers and project confidence.
By blending practical CV workshops and speed networking with authentic interview experience, the TMK and EECF YES Day succeeded in giving East London’s youth the tangible tools, insights, and confidence required to kickstart their professional journeys.
EECF’s Project Coordinator, Danielle Devlin said: “I want to thank all the TMK team and your fabulous volunteers for hosting a wonderful day for the young people that attended. You delivered a really special YES event and made the young people feel welcomed, valued, respected and like they belonged there as future employees, which is no mean feat.”
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