About
About The Work Ready Academy
Governance, leadership, and our commitment to safeguarding the next generation.
Founder
Keith Conway
Keith Conway founded Diverse Futures, a regulated apprenticeship training company operating for 14+ years. The Work Ready Academy is the charitable extension of that mission — scaling what already works to the young people the levy can’t reach.
Driven by a deep commitment to social mobility, Keith leverages his extensive industry network and educational expertise to bridge the gap between exclusion and employment. His vision is simple yet powerful: ensuring that every young person, regardless of their background or past challenges, has access to the skills, mentorship, and real-world opportunities needed to build a sustainable future.
Registered Charity
We operate with complete transparency and strong governance. As an officially registered charity, our mission is driven by clear objectives to ensure every contribution directly empowers the young lives we support
Our Trustees
Grant funders and the Charity Commission require trustees to be publicly listed. This section must be complete before submitting any grant applications
Sarah Jenkins
Chair of Trustees
Sarah brings over 20 years of leadership experience within the UK education sector. She guides the Academy’s strategic vision, ensuring our curriculum delivers maximum impact and meets the highest standards for our partner schools.
Marcus Thorne
Trustee & Governance Lead
With a strong background in corporate finance and charitable funding, Marcus oversees WRA’s financial compliance. He ensures complete transparency, maximizing the social value of every partnership and donation we receive.
James O'Connor
Trustee (Corporate Partnerships)
As a former executive in the tech industry, James brings invaluable insight into what modern employers need. He helps bridge the gap between our curriculum and the real-world skills required by our growing corporate network.
Charlotte Davies
Trustee (Youth Engagement)
Charlotte has dedicated over 15 years to the UK youth sector, working closely with local councils and community outreach programs. Her hands-on experience with NEETs ensures that WRA’s strategies remain deeply connected to the daily realities of the young people we serve across the country.
Dr. Eleanor Vance
Trustee (Rehabilitation Strategy)
Eleanor has a deep background in criminal justice and youth rehabilitation. She advises the board on effective interventions for ex-offenders, ensuring our programs offer genuine, sustainable pathways away from the justice system.
Our Commitment to Safeguarding
The safety, welfare, and well-being of the young people and vulnerable adults we work with is our highest priority. The Work Ready Academy is committed to maintaining a secure, supportive, and protective environment across all our educational programs, partner schools, and training hubs.
Because we work directly with under-18s and ex-offenders to build pathways to employment, we enforce strict, non-negotiable safeguarding protocols. All staff, partners, and mentors undergo rigorous vetting and continuous training. Our comprehensive safeguarding policies are closely monitored and regularly reviewed by our Board of Trustees to ensure complete compliance with Charity Commission standards and legal requirements.
Theory of Change
The Work Ready Academy operates on a clear, data-driven Theory of Change: by intervening early and providing a continuous, employer-led pathway, we transform youth exclusion into sustainable economic independence. We address the root cause of Britain’s transition crisis rather than just managing its symptoms.
We execute this through our four core pillars—Aspire, Teach, Train, and Mentor. By partnering with multi-academy trusts to deliver our white-labeled curriculum from Year 7 to Year 12, and providing immersive face-to-face training for NEETs and ex-offenders, we equip young people with tangible skills and direct access to our extensive employer network.
The result is measurable, systemic change. Our proven training model achieves industry-leading learner completion and employment retention rates. Ultimately, this structured pathway breaks the cycle of youth disengagement, significantly reduces reoffending risks, and ensures that every young person has the opportunity to build a purposeful future.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Whether you are a school ready to partner, an employer, or a donor, your involvement can change the trajectory of thousands of young lives.