Over two million young people in the UK lack confidence. Businesses in the food and drink sector can play a key role in closing the gap.
One in three young people in the UK lack confidence*. That’s over two million voices at risk of going unheard – in classrooms, job interviews, and workplaces. Without intervention, this “confidence gap” deepens the social mobility gap: young people who lack self-belief are less likely to speak up, join clubs, pursue opportunities, or step into leadership roles.
But there is an opportunity for change – and the food and drink sector is uniquely positioned to lead it. With a presence in every community and a workforce spanning farms, factories, shops, and headquarters, the sector can do more than respond to a skills shortage. It can help close the confidence gap that holds so many young people back.
How Hark and IGD are closing the gap
For over a decade, Hark has partnered with the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) to open doors for young people into the food and consumer goods sector. Together, they have run 50 live employability webinars each year, reaching 13,000 students across the UK – from inner-city schools with high levels of free school meals to SEND classrooms and sixth forms.
These sessions go beyond teaching employability skills. They empower young people to engage confidently with adults they don’t know in a safe, supportive environment. Students ask questions, hear authentic career stories, and learn what real jobs in food and drink look like – from early careers in supermarkets such as Tesco, Aldi, and Sainsbury’s to leadership roles at companies like Arla and Nestlé. Campaigns like #MmmakeYourMark showcase the sector’s diverse career paths, helping young people imagine themselves in these roles.
Hark’s contribution includes:
- Creating engaging real-life content – from interactive quizzes to behind-the-scenes insights – to introduce students to careers in the sector.
- Running 50 webinars a year in 160+ schools, giving 13,000 students direct access to employees and a chance to practice the soft skills most valued by employers.
- Training employees at partner businesses – from apprentices to CEOs – to volunteer in schools, inspiring students while developing their own skills as mentors and role models.
The impact is measurable:
- 85% of students say the webinars helped them understand the skills needed in the workplace.
- Teachers describe the sessions as “amazing” and “incredibly informative.”
- Volunteers often return full circle, having once been inspired by the programme themselves.
By providing relatable role models and real-life stories, the programme transforms possibility into belief, helping young people develop the confidence they need to thrive.
What the sector can do
Hark’s research shows that 67% of non-confident young people never speak to unfamiliar adults, and only 7% frequently share their opinions. Confidence isn’t just a personality trait – it’s a structural barrier to opportunity.
The food and drink sector can break this cycle by:
- Opening doors: Combining classroom resources with direct, human encounters between young people and employees.
- Making it real: Employees at all levels share their career journeys, including setbacks, showing there’s no single “perfect” path to success.
- Proving, sharing, and scaling: Measuring and celebrating impact, then expanding successful initiatives across more schools and communities.
The confidence gap isn’t inevitable – it’s solvable. Hark and IGD shows what’s possible when an industry invests in both skills and confidence. Companies in the food and consumer goods sector – whether retailers, manufacturers, or suppliers – now have the chance to scale programmes like this and ensure every young person, not just the loudest or luckiest, gets the opportunity to succeed.
About Hark
Hark is a London-based education and youth agency with over 30 years’ experience creating learning experiences and campaigns for schools, communities, and young audiences. Specialising in education strategy, youth insight, content creation, live events, and integrated PR, Hark helps businesses connect with the next generation in meaningful, measurable ways – from fuelling future talent pipelines to advancing CSR, ESG, and social impact goals. At its core, Hark empowers young people with the skills and confidence to thrive while helping organisations create long-term value through purposeful impact.
*Read the full Listen Up Report here → harklondon.com/listen-up
