The historic twin Grands Départs of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift from Britain in 2027 will showcase how major sporting events can create significant opportunities for young people to gain real life work experience through a Readiness to Work programme.
The launch of Grand Départ GB’s Readiness to Work programme, delivered by British Cycling, will allow 18- to 25-year-olds to gain real life work experience through volunteering at the Grands Départs, coming at a time when recent UK government commissioned reports have stated that one million young people are not in education, employment or training, and among 24-year-olds, 45% have never had a job, yet 80% want to work.
This workforce and skills development programme combined with real life major event experience at the Grands Départs, including but not limited to employability and readiness training, is designed to help build the skills, confidence and knowledge needed to move into employment. Training is focused on turning the volunteering experience into transferrable skills to use within future jobs and job applications.
The Readiness to Work programme will see 300 young people, who apply to be JOY Maker volunteers, trained in employability skills including application readiness (CV and interviews), resilience, financial education and personal brand, as well as receiving three months of mentoring with a professional in sectors such as sport and performance, event management, professional services, and marketing and communications.
Commenting on the Readiness to Work programme, Jon Dutton OBE, Chief Executive of British Cycling, said; “We know there are more than one million 16- to 24-year-olds not in employment, education or training, and for many of those, 84%, want to change that. We want to address some of the employability challenges.
“This offers an opportunity for young people to come and enjoy a mega sporting event, but also to build confidence, resilience and to get skills that will benefit getting them into employment.”
The programme is a part of British Cycling’s JOY social impact programme for Grand Départ GB, that will create positive social change both on and off the bike through six programmes: girl’s participation; soft power, trade & diplomacy; arts & culture; digital schools; a community engagement toolkit; and the Readiness to Work employability programme.
In 2027, the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will both begin in the United Kingdom – the first time both Grands Départs have taken place in the same country, outside France.
The joint UK Grands Départs mark an important moment for cycling, with both the men’s and women’s Tours showcased on one of the world’s greatest sporting stages. With millions of spectators expected, it will be the largest free-to-watch sporting event in UK history.
Hosting both Tours should inspire cycling participation at every level, building on the UK’s legacy of cycling success and innovation.
A dedicated social impact programme, JOY, will deliver lasting impact beyond 2027, focused on improving health and wellbeing, skills development and connecting communities. The programme will create an opportunity for young people to develop and showcase their skills whilst bringing together community groups to showcase and celebrate their local area and include a nationwide volunteer programme offering thousands of people the chance to be part of these historic sporting events first-hand.
Tour de France 2027 route:
Friday 2 July | stage one: Edinburgh to Carlisle
Saturday 3 July | stage two: Keswick to Liverpool
Sunday 4 July | stage three: Welshpool to Cardiff
Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2027 route:
Friday 30 July | stage one: Leeds to Manchester
Saturday 31 July | stage two: Manchester to Sheffield
Sunday 1 August | stage three: London
www.letourgb.com/readiness-to-work
www.letourgb.com/volunteer
