THE SHYFT is a structured, hands-on programme for young people with learning disabilities who are approaching the transition from education into adulthood.
Not all young people are ready for traditional employment or internships, and not all environments are built with these people in mind.
We believe young people are capable but too often, there is a gap between education and what comes next. The transition into employment can be where confidence, routine, and opportunity begin to fall away.
THE SHYFT exists to help bridge that gap.
Through small, in-person sessions, participants take part in practical, work-based activities such as: printmaking, ceramics, food preparation, woodwork, and product development.
Participants build routine, responsibility, and experience by working towards something tangible; whether that’s a collection of products, preparing items for sale, or contributing to a working environment.
Over time, this extends into supported employment opportunities creating ways for participants to contribute to their communities, and for more people who want to work to have the opportunity to do so.
The focus is on creating the conditions for real participation, and a step towards employment that feels achievable.
About Us
Why The Shyft - Sian Redman
After 10 years spent hiring and developing people in global businesses, including running graduate programmes, something began to stand out.
I could count on one hand the number of people who openly disclosed an additional need or disability during a hiring process. The lack of representation in the workforce was striking. We were trying to build inclusive environments, but it became clear that the challenge wasn’t only within employment itself. For many, the barrier existed long before that point.
The transition into work didn’t feel accessible or achievable, and there seemed to be a missing step between education and employment.
This led me to look more closely at what happens after education. In the UK, only around 5–6% of people with a learning disability are in paid employment. Across the wider disabled population, that number is around 50–55%.
At the same time, I kept coming across the same thing - young people who wanted to work, to contribute, and to be part of something real.
After maternity leave, I decided I wanted to do something about it. The Shyft was developed in response to what felt like a clear gap; a need for something that sits between education and employment, where people can build practical skills, develop routine, and take part in work that leads somewhere.
My own experience of navigating a neurodiversity diagnosis has only reinforced this. It has deepened my understanding of how environments can either enable or limit someone’s ability to take part and why the right structure matters.
The Shyft is built on a simple belief: that more people are capable of working than current systems allow for, and that more people should have the opportunity to do so.
How The Shyft operates
The Shyft operates through a dual structure.
The Shyft Studio CIC (our not-for-profit arm) enables us to provide funded and subsidised places for young people who need additional support.
Be The Shyft Ltd (our trading arm) delivers paid programmes and is developing our long-term hospitality and product-based business, creating real work experience and building pathways into employment, both within The Shyft and through partnerships with local businesses.
Together, this model allows us to combine social impact with long-term sustainability.
Contact us
Whether you’re a school, parent, employer or just curious about what we’re building, feel free to get in touch.
We’d love to hear from you.