From National Contracts to Giving Back: Supporting the Next Generation in Bolton
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What happens when someone who once worked on national construction and shop-fitting contracts returns years later to support the next generation of young people? At Genuine Futures CIC, this powerful full-circle moment shows exactly why long-term relationships and community matter.
Recently, Steve Barrot from Blackpool, founder of Pristine Pros Ltd, visited the Genuine Futures Hub at The Scrappers in Bolton to see first-hand how young people are being supported into work, confidence, and positive futures.
A Shared History in National Commercial Cleaning
Many years ago, Steve worked directly for Sam Smith, founder of Genuine Futures CIC, during Sam’s time running large-scale commercial, shop-fitting, and construction cleaning contracts across the UK.
Together, they delivered work for major high-street brands including Costa Coffee, Greggs, and a range of national construction companies, managing demanding projects that required reliability, teamwork, and strong work ethic.
Today, Steve is running one of the Fylde Coast’s leading professional cleaning companies, and returning not just as a visitor — but as a business leader wanting to give back to young people who are now at the same starting point he once was.
“It Was Great to Catch Up After Almost 14 Years” — Sam Smith
For Sam, the visit was both professional and personal.
“I haven’t seen Steve in almost 14 years, so it was genuinely great to catch up and see how far he’s come in business,” said Sam Smith, Founder of Genuine Futures CIC.
“What meant even more was being able to introduce him to the young people we’re supporting and to start exploring how we can create further opportunities together. These are exactly the kinds of partnerships that help young people move forward.”
That shared understanding — from shop-floor beginnings to business leadership — is what makes conversations about opportunity real and relatable for young people on the programme.
Seeing Confidence Grow First-Hand
During the visit, Steve and his team spent time meeting young people across the site, including those working within:
- We Shine Any Car (youth-run car wash, valeting, and light vehicle repairs)
- We Scrap Anything (recycling, depollution, and vehicle dismantling pathways)
Steve spoke about seeing clear confidence, pride, and progress in the young people, and how different this felt from traditional classroom-based support.
For many of the young people, this kind of real-world environment is where they finally begin to thrive.
How Genuine Futures Supports NEET Young People
Genuine Futures CIC supports young people aged 15–24 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) or who are at risk of long-term disengagement.
Our 360-degree support model combines:
- Mental wellbeing and trusted adult relationships
- Employability and enterprise skills
- Hands-on work experience through youth-led businesses
- Clear progression routes into employment, training, or self-employment
We focus on building confidence first, because without belief, progression simply doesn’t happen.
Part of the Young Futures That Matter and Lost Boys Campaigns
This visit forms part of our wider Young Futures That Matter and Lost Boys campaigns — highlighting how many young people are not failing, but are being failed by gaps in early support, education, and employment pathways.
Our approach is built on:
- Early intervention
- Employer engagement
- Community partnerships
- Long-term progression, not short-term fixes
Why Employer Partnerships Are Critical
When business leaders who understand the journey come back to invest time and opportunity, it sends a powerful message to young people:
success is possible — and people are willing to back you.
Partnerships with employers like Pristine Pros Ltd help us create:
- Work placements
- Industry exposure
- Mentoring opportunities
- Realistic job pathways
This is how young people move from feeling stuck to feeling capable.
Get Involved: Support Youth Employment in Greater Manchester
If you are a business, partner, or community organisation looking to support young people and strengthen local employment pathways across Bolton and Greater Manchester, we would love to connect.
genuinefutures.co.uk
hello@genuinefutures.org.uk
Together, we can turn early opportunity into long-term success.