Aldridge Foundation CIO

The foundation supports skills-building programmes, mentoring, entrepreneurship workshops, leadership development, enterprise challenges, and school-to-work transitions for pupils at partner Aldridge schools and colleges. These activities advance education and equip young people with practical enterprise and employability skills. The work is place-based, focused on deprived communities across England where Aldridge academies are located. The foundation funds direct programme costs, emphasising sustainable, evidence-based interventions and partnerships with businesses and local communities.

Eligible applicants are primarily partner schools and colleges within the Aldridge network, as well as pre-selected partner organisations. Beneficiaries are disadvantaged young people identified by school teams. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications from external organisations, so funding is reserved for those already connected to the Aldridge ecosystem. There are no income or location restrictions beyond the requirement to be part of the network or a pre-existing partnership.

The foundation does not fund core costs, capital projects, or unrestricted grants. It also does not accept unsolicited applications from external organisations, meaning funding is not available to charities or groups outside the Aldridge network or pre-selected partnerships.

Funding is provided as direct programme grants within the Aldridge network or to pre-selected partners. The foundation does not offer core, capital, or unrestricted grants. It does not accept unsolicited applications; instead, it works through its existing relationships with partner schools, colleges, and selected organisations. This approach ensures funding is targeted to its own place-based enterprise education programmes.