We can now announce here that former Wales and British & Irish Lions rugby star Jon Davies has been appointed as our first ever Ambassador for Wales (after it was announced at a special event at the ICC Wales on Friday).
Bridging the Gap Between Education and Employment
Since launching our programmes in Wales in April 2024, we have already reached over 11,000 students in Welsh secondary schools. Our mission is simple but vital: to provide young people with the opportunities, skills, and confidence they need to succeed in the workplace.
“Right now, we’ve got a talent problem in Wales and across the United Kingdom,” says Sue Maskrey, our Chief Executive. “There is little bridging school and the workplace, and most young people are unaware of what’s possible for them and won’t realise their potential without support. More than one million young people are sitting on the sidelines, not because they don’t have talent, but because the right opportunity hasn’t presented itself.”
Rugby Star to Young People’s Champion
Jon Davies brings his wealth of experience to supporting young people to his new role. With an illustrious career spanning 18 years at the highest level of rugby, Davies understands better than most the importance of mentorship and opportunity.
Speaking about his new role, Davies said:
“I didn’t become a professional rugby player by accident. Someone believed in me, showed me a pathway, and gave me a chance when others might have overlooked me. I am proud to support Working Options in bridging the gap between school and the workplace for young people, who otherwise wouldn’t get that same chance.”
“As an Ambassador I want to help in the most impactful way I can and while I can’t go into every school myself – I’ve been to a few and pulled in a few friends to share their stories as well – what I can do is try and make everyone in Wales aware of the amazing work Working Options do and to help them connect with more businesses and volunteers to support them with the resources they need to be helping every young person in Wales.”
“Gadewch i ni wneud gwahaniaeth i’n pobl ifanc a rhoi’r cymorth iddynt yr oedd arnom ni i gyd ei angen ar yr adeg hon o’n bywydau.”
Free Support for Welsh Schools and Students
We are committed to ensuring that all young people in Wales have access to the same opportunities, regardless of their background or circumstances. All of our programmes and resources are provided completely free of charge to both schools and students.
The appointment of Jon Davies as our Ambassador for Wales has already been welcomed by Sir Clive Woodward, National Patron of Working Options, who shares Davies’ commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent.
Get Involved
Working Options relies on the support of businesses, volunteers, and individuals to deliver our vital programmes. If you’d like to join Jon Davies in supporting young people across Wales, there are many ways to get involved:
Volunteer to share your career journey with students,
Partner with us to provide work experience opportunities,
Donate to help us reach more young people,
Spread the word about our work in your networks.
For more information on how you can get involved, please, contact our Welsh team.
About Working Options
Working Options aims to work with every young person in Wales to give them the opportunities and skills they need to succeed in work. Our free programmes bring inspiration into schools and students into workplaces so they can learn how to network, communicate, and back themselves to succeed.
