Sheffield joins growing UK network of businesses helping prevent youth homelessness through employment.

Sheffield has become the latest Homewards location to bring businesses together through the New Employment Opportunities Network (NEON) to help prevent youth homelessness.
NEON is a place-based, business-led network connecting employers with local services and community organisations to create sustainable employment opportunities for young people aged 16-24 who are at risk of homelessness.

Launched in September, NEON Sheffield will help local 16- to 24-year-olds access and sustain employment while giving businesses access to a broader pool of local talent. Stable work provides not only income but routine, confidence, connections and security, helping provide the stability that can prevent homelessness before it happens.

Sheffield already has a strong network of community organisations, employment services and programmes supporting young people towards work. NEON will build on this by putting businesses at the heart of the approach, connecting employers with existing local support and creating sustainable routes into work.

For businesses, NEON provides a practical way to recruit and retain young people whose skills and potential might otherwise be overlooked. Employers will be connected with the right local support, while young people will be supported to prepare for, enter and stay in work. This can help businesses access new talent and strengthen retention, while creating the stability that can help prevent homelessness.

NEON Sheffield is co-chaired by Rachel Abbott, Managing Director of Cobra Sport, and Lisa Pogson, CEO of Airmaster, bringing business leadership and connections across Sheffield’s employer community to the network.

NEON Co-Chair, Rachel Abbott has said:

“One of Sheffield’s greatest strengths is the willingness of people and organisations to work together to improve outcomes for their communities. NEON provides an opportunity to harness that spirit and complement other initiatives by bringing businesses together to share their experience, influence and ambition. I’m delighted to support an initiative that can help turn collective commitment into meaningful change”

As part of the growing NEON network, Sheffield will help test what works locally and share that learning across the UK, building a scalable approach that demonstrates how sustainable employment can play a practical role in preventing homelessness.