High Tide Foundation, founded in 2012 by businesses across Tees Valley, has grown significantly over the last six years and has created a level of membership which offers considerable benefits both to the Foundation and these businesses.

Six growing, diverse businesses: Active Chartered Financial Planners, Casper Shipping, Intelect, Jacksons Law Firm, PD Ports and Visualsoft, have become corporate partners of the charity, providing investment to support the future of High Tide as well as strategic insight which will allow High Tide to continue developing its life changing programmes.

The companies each have values aligning with those of High Tide and recognise the requirement to secure an engaged workforce to ensure a prosperous future for the Tees Valley, making them ideal partners to work with the charity in this exciting phase.

Ruth Conner, Marketing Manager at Active, said: “We have always had a passion for developing the next generation, as ultimately this will ensure our business continues way beyond the horizons of our current workforce. We are therefore delighted to support High Tide and its students in any way we can and look forward to seeing the benefits it delivers as part of a thriving Tees Valley.”

Fran Cormican, Managing Director of Intelect, said: “We are thrilled to be entering 2019 as one of High Tide’s corporate partners. My fellow directors and I all started our careers as apprentices, and now apprenticeships are a major driving force in our business’ success.

“We couldn’t think of a better way to support the young people of our area, than to partner with a charity that promotes the same values when it comes to providing opportunities to the youth of Teesside.”

Initially running for 12 months, the corporate partnerships are intended to become a long-term relationship between these industry leaders and a charity dedicated to providing unique career insights to the young people of the Tees Valley.

CEO of Visualsoft, Dean Benson, said: “We’re delighted to be working together with High Tide, to help raise aspirations and change the future for young people across the Tees Valley! We’ve experienced first-hand some of the challenges regarding recruitment, skills development and retention in Teesside, which is why we’ve come on board as a corporate partner with High Tide. We can’t wait to help inspire the Teesside of tomorrow.”

Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution at Jacksons Law Firm, Toby Joel, said: “Jacksons is delighted to become a corporate partner of High Tide. We have been working with the charity since its launch and have been involved in the invaluable work it has been doing in providing meaningful work experience and opportunities to the young people of the Tees Valley. We hope our corporate partnership will help the charity to grow its reach and to present a wider cohort of young people with an even greater choice of opportunities. We are very much looking forward to working with High Tide to achieve this.”

Chairman, Mark Easby, said: “We have launched this initiative to make the Foundation’s work more sustainable and to support our growth strategy. These flagship businesses share our values and commitment to young people; they’re shining examples in growing and increasing the diverse sectors in which we work.

“The partners’ commitment will help High Tide to remain industry-led and secure our future, while helping to evolve and influence our life changing programmes.

“This is another step in our long-term strategy and the evolution of the Foundation. We’re working to create more programmes, increase our reach and have a positive impact on as many young people as possible.”

By supporting High Tide financially, the six corporate partners will have access to an exclusive package including event tickets, marketing opportunities supported by the Foundation’s PR partner, Harvey & Hugo and a media kit to support the businesses’ CSR activity.

For more information about High Tide Foundation, see www.hightidefoundation.co.uk.

Twitter: @hightidetees