Apprenticeship or further education?

Find a job or be an entrepreneur?

Make a difference through volunteering or having a voice?

What’s your choice?

Choose to earn while you learn

Being an apprentice allows you to earn while you train.  Many of the apprentices in Croydon’s growing apprenticeship scheme are supporters of the Choose Your Future campaign.

Apprenticeships

Find work or work experience

Croydon Works

Croydon Works is a free recruitment service for Croydon residents. It can help you find jobs and work experience opportunities.

The Croydon BME Forum runs workshops for CV writing and job searching.

Want to be the next chief executive or a business director? The third Croydon Takeover Challenge takes place in November and you can apply to step into the shoes of a wide range of jobs including business leader and entrepreneurial roles, councillors, mayors, chief executives, and Police officials. The challenge is open to young people in Croydon and is a fun and exciting way to get real hands-on-experience, make decisions and share your views on the business.

More details coming soon but you can read about last year’s Takeover challenge here.

Choose to start a business

Want to be an entrepreneur and start your own business? You may want to have a market stall or small shop, start a tech or creative business, or a consultancy – it’s up to you.

Choose volunteering to make a difference

Volunteering gives back to the local community and can look great on your CV.

  • You can find out about volunteering opportunities with CVA www.cvalive.org.uk/volunteering/want-to-volunteer
  • Croydon Young Mayor’s Fund – assists with developing Croydon based youth projects, designed by Croydon young people. You can apply if you are aged 8-18 and live, go to school, college or work in Croydon. Email youngmayor@croydon.gov.uk to find out more.

There are also ways you can get involved with the council and have a voice on the issues that matter to you.

  • Croydon Young Mayor – The first Croydon Young Mayor and Deputy Young Mayor were elected in 2018. They represent the views of young people and encourage them to create opportunities around issues that matter to them and their communities.
  • Youth forums – from crime to careers, social care to summer fun, Croydon’s youth forums cover a huge range of local issues, join in and have your say. Find out more at youngcroydon website
Young Mayor logo

Croydon young people are making positive choices. See their stories here.

Young Croydoners share their ambitions in this short film. See our YouTube playlist