05 JANUARY 2026
Pupils from Ashbrooke School have presented Sytner Mercedes-Benz with the WG Futures Employer Award at their Sunderland dealership. The award recognises the company’s dedication to creating workplace cultures that celebrate neurodiversity and support young people as they prepare for future careers.
Over the past year, the partnership between our Futures Team and Sytner Mercedes-Benz has grown into a meaningful and impactful collaboration across schools in the North East, including Ashbrooke and Hartwell schools, The Grange and Oakwood learning centres, and in Cumbria, Cedar House and Oversands schools.
Clare Read Head Teacher of Ashbrooke School commented:
"This partnership with Sytner Mercedes-Benz has been truly inspiring. Our pupils have gained invaluable insights into the world of work, developed new skills, and had experiences that will stay with them for a lifetime. It has bridged the gap between ambition and real-world experience, providing tangible pathways into employment.”
Sytner Mercedes- Benz has facilitated Future Ambassador sessions, workshops that delve into individual journeys to success, providing a look at diverse experiences and the opportunities the company can offer. Additionally, their commitment extends to hosting children and young through our Work Inspiration programme, offering them hands-on experiences in a range of roles. Building on the success of the sessions, Sytner Mercedes-Benz staff have also taken on mentoring roles that include delivering tailored CV-building sessions, mock interviews for specific roles, and ongoing guidance to help young people understand employer expectations and present their strengths confidently.
Through the Futures programme, our schools continue to witness powerful success stories. Remarkably, 100 per cent of school leavers move directly into further education, employment, or training , a striking contrast to the national picture, where almost one million young people are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET) according to Office of National Statistics report published in November 2025.
Ceri Davies Jeans- HR Manager of Mercedes-Benz commented:
“We thoroughly enjoy our partnership with Witherslack Group. Every interaction we have with the pupils has been a positive and enjoyable experience. They are truly fantastic, we hope we have been able to support them with their future career choices. We are looking forward to the partnership growing and being able to support many more young people.”
Learn more about Futures.
