Proving what you can do — and getting hired
Young people on Wigan's Build Our Borough programme built interactive digital CVs with Routes. One learner, Jaidon Pemberton, secured a job in construction as a direct result.
Jaidon on site with Structures Group in Leigh.
Young people on Wigan's Build Our Borough (BOB) programme have been using the Routes platform to create interactive digital CVs, with one learner already securing employment as a direct result.
Routes is a digital career passport that allows young people to bring their skills to life with photos, video evidence and real examples of their work, giving employers a far richer picture than a traditional CV ever could.
The timing could not be more important. Alan Milburn's interim report for the Department for Work and Pensions, Young People and Work (2026), found that nearly one million 16 to 24 year olds in the UK are not in education, employment or training, and that six in ten of them have never had a job. The report warns that recruitment has become “more remote, more automated and less human”, with young people screened out by portals and algorithms before anyone has looked them in the eye, and that the first rungs of the career ladder have weakened.
84%
of NEET young people want to work, learn or train
£125bn
estimated annual cost of youth disengagement
£300k
lifetime earnings a disengaged young person can lose
Source: Young People and Work, Alan Milburn — DWP interim report, 2026
Crucially, the report found that 84 per cent of young people who are NEET want to find a job, education or training. The problem is not ambition. It is that conventional recruitment gives them no way to prove what they can do.
Routes was built to solve exactly that problem, and the results from Wigan show it working in practice.
“My group BOB (Build Our Borough) was given access to the Routes platform to create an interactive CV. The learners found the platform easy to use and were able to navigate through the various sections with ease, enabling them to fully personalise their CVs with photos and videos that showcased and supported evidence of their work experience. The Routes team were incredibly supportive and encouraging throughout the process, helping learners to engage confidently and make the most of the platform.”
Employers agree. Rachael Leahy of Structures Group, the Leigh-based construction company specialising in structural repair, masonry and building restoration across the UK, said:
“The Routes CV is a fantastic alternative to a traditional CV, particularly for young people who may have limited work experience. It feels modern and engaging and provides a much more rounded picture of the individual. By showcasing their skills, experiences and potential in a different way, it offers a level of social proof that's difficult to capture on a conventional CV, helping employers see the person behind the application rather than just their employment history.”
For the young people themselves, the impact is real. Jaidon, who gained a job using his Routes CV, said:
“Using the Routes CV allowed me to show my true skills and potential. I can add footage of what I've learnt and prove the skills I possess to employers I'm seeking work from. The app was easy to use, engaging, and made writing a CV more fun. I'd recommend it to anyone who's stuck with a piece of A4 paper with a few words on it.”
The Milburn report calls for a system that asks young people “what can you do?” rather than “what can't you do?”. Routes puts that principle into practice, giving every learner, including those with limited work experience or additional needs, a way to evidence their skills, character and potential, and giving employers the confidence to take a chance on them.
Routes is now working with schools, colleges and training providers across the UK to help more young people make the transition from education into employment.
Could your learners be next?
Routes works with schools, colleges and training providers across the UK.