ASDA, Northern Trains, and Robertson Construction among major employers opening their doors to young people as City of Maths launches new work experience and careers initiative
In Leeds, some of the city’s biggest employers have joined forces through the City of Maths initiative to show young people where maths skills can take them – and to help them get there.
ASDA, Northern Trains, and Robertson Construction are among local businesses backing a new City of Maths initiative designed to connect young people with the world of work and demonstrate the surprising number of careers that rely on maths.
The new Maths Employment Pathways directory has been developed by the City of Maths programme to bring together a list of Leeds businesses that are offering a range of ways to support students and boost future employability – from work experience placements and apprenticeships to careers talks in schools, mentoring, teacher CPD and workplace visits.
Alongside the directory, City of Maths has launched a new series of careers videos, featuring people working in a variety of industries talking about how they use maths in their day-to-day roles.
The initiatives are designed to answer a question many young people ask: “Where will I actually use maths?”
And the answer, says the team behind City of Maths, is almost everywhere.
From supermarkets and sports to media, construction and beyond
The new directory represents a significant commitment from Leeds employers to help young people understand the skills, opportunities and career pathways available to them.
ASDA, Northern Trains, and Robertson Construction are among the many businesses involved, with employers offering different ways for students and schools to engage with their organisations.
That means a young person might not just hear about a career from a teacher or careers adviser – they could visit a workplace, hear directly from an employee, be mentored by someone in the industry, undertake work experience, or discover an apprenticeship opportunity.
For teachers, the initiative can also provide opportunities to connect classroom learning with the skills employers are looking for, including through teacher CPD and direct engagement with businesses.
The result is a two-way relationship: young people get a better understanding of the world of work, while local employers can inspire and develop the future talent they will need.
The maths behind the jobs young people dream about – and the ones they might not expect
City of Maths is also showing the value of maths with its new careers video series, which features workers from a range of industries explaining the maths they use in their jobs – including some careers that might surprise students.
The series includes a video of space scientist Ellie Sleightholm sharing how mathematical skills play a role in the space industry – one of the most aspirational career areas for many young people.
And for those whose ambitions are more likely to involve a sports field than a spacecraft, netball and rugby performance analysts from Leeds Rhinos show how maths can be an important part of working in sport too.
Other videos include the Channel 4 news team, a retail degree apprentice, and a senior innovation chef for Asda, among others, who all illustrate just how widely mathematical thinking is used across different industries.
Maths isn’t just a subject – it’s a career skill
“We want young people in Leeds to understand that maths isn’t simply a subject they study at school – it’s a skill that businesses across our city rely on every day,” says Dr Katie Chicot, the CEO of MathsWorldUK and City of Maths in Leeds.
“What’s particularly exciting is seeing local employers getting behind this. Businesses across Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region are showing that maths skills matter by offering young people the chance to come into their workplaces and see for themselves. That kind of real-world contact can make a huge difference.”
“We hope the directory and careers videos will give young people some new ideas about where maths could take them, showing our young people the value of the maths they are learning, while also helping Leeds businesses build connections with the next generation of employees and problem-solvers.”
City of Maths says the involvement of local employers is central to its wider ambition to change how people in Leeds think and feel about maths, and to show its relevance to real life, careers, creativity and communities.
The City of Maths programme is a two-year celebration of maths running across Leeds throughout 2026 and 2027, with events, resources, and support for students, teachers, families and communities.
A city-wide investment in the next generation
For Leeds, the new initiative represents more than a collection of work experience opportunities.
It is a growing network of employers, schools and educators working together to give young people a better understanding of the city’s economy and the opportunities available to them.
Whether their next step after GCSEs is sixth form, college, an apprenticeship, further training or employment, City of Maths wants students to see their maths skills as something they can take with them – and use in careers they may never have considered.
City of Maths is now encouraging more Leeds employers to join the initiative and offer opportunities to local young people.
City of Maths’ Maths Employment Pathways directory is available at:
www.cityofmaths.co.uk/maths-employment-pathways
The careers video series is available at:
www.cityofmaths.co.uk/careers-videos
Find out more about City of Maths:
www.cityofmaths.co.uk
