Google Empowering the Next Generation

The world of work is changing fast. AI, automation, and shifting career expectations mean that young people entering the workforce today will need new skills, mindsets, and support systems to succeed. Google knows this and is taking bold steps to prepare the next generation for what’s next.

In honour of International Youth Day, this week’s Your People Power Spotlight shines on Google, a global tech giant that not only hires young talent but also actively empowers them to lead, innovate, and build a better future for themselves and the world.

From Learners to Leaders: The Early Careers Approach

Google has long been recognised for its competitive internship and graduate schemes, but what sets the company apart is its philosophy of potential over polish. Their early-career hiring isn’t just about top credentials; it’s about identifying curious, creative minds who are eager to grow.

Through structured internships, apprenticeships, and rotational programmes, Google gives young professionals real ownership of projects from day one. Interns don’t just shadow, they ship products, contribute to codebases, shape marketing strategies, and drive impact.

In 2024, the company expanded its Google Apprenticeship Programme across Europe, offering career pathways in data analytics, UX design, project management, and IT support, with no university degree required. The goal? To level the playing field and open doors to tech for young people from all backgrounds.

Mentorship, Not Micromanagement

At the heart of the organisation is a culture of mentorship, coaching, and psychological safety.

Each apprentice, intern, or grad is matched with mentors who help them navigate their roles, build confidence, and plan their next steps. Managers are trained to coach rather than command, creating an environment where asking questions is seen as a strength, not a weakness.

This relational, rather than hierarchical, structure allows young people to contribute ideas without fear, a vital ingredient in building confidence and fostering innovation.

The Grow with Google Initiative

Beyond its own workforce, the company is tackling youth unemployment and digital exclusion on a much wider scale.

Through its Grow with Google programme, the company has helped over 10 million people in Europe gain digital skills, with a specific focus on marginalised young people and those living in rural or low-income communities.

Free online courses, career certificates, and job-ready skills training, all developed in partnership with leading employers and educators, are democratising access to digital careers. Whether it’s learning Python, building a CV, or prepping for interviews, the resources are practical, inclusive, and high-impact.

In the UK, partnerships with organisations such as The Princes Trust, Multiverse, and Youth Employment UK have helped thousands of young people gain skills and confidence to enter the tech workforce, many with no prior experience.

AI Readiness for Gen Z

With the rise of generative AI, this company is making sure young professionals are not left behind.

Through Google DeepMind, AI literacy toolkits, and live workshops on tools like Gemini and Bard, the company is ensuring that digital natives become digital leaders.

In a recent pilot, Google introduced AI training into its apprenticeship curriculum, enabling participants to understand and ethically apply emerging tech in their day-to-day roles. The company also created a YouTube Learning series specifically for Gen Z, covering topics like AI ethics, prompt engineering, and design thinking.

Belonging Starts on Day One

Google understands that bringing in young talent isn’t enough; they have to feel like they belong.

That’s why employee resource groups (ERGs) such as gTech Grad, Googler-to-Googler (g2g), Women@Google, and Black Googler Network (BGN) offer safe spaces for community, peer support, and mentorship. These are not just affinity groups; they are accelerators of confidence and culture.

Hybrid onboarding journeys, early-career wellbeing programmes, and access to 1:1 coaching round out a people-first experience that focuses not just on skills, but the whole human behind them.

Lessons for Other Employers

Google’s youth and early careers strategy offers five key takeaways for organisations seeking to engage the next generation:

Broaden access – Remove degree barriers and create alternative entry routes like apprenticeships and skills-first hiring.
Invest in mentorship – Create structured, safe systems where young people feel supported, not scrutinised.
Democratise learning – Offer free, accessible resources to help all young people gain job-ready skills.
Normalise belonging – Make inclusion part of the onboarding experience, not an afterthought.
Prepare for the future – Equip youth with AI fluency and digital leadership skills now, not later.

Youth Day, the Google Way

For Google, empowering youth isn’t a seasonal campaign; it’s a strategic imperative. As the next generation steps into the workplace, companies will need to do more than simply “attract talent.” They’ll need to inspire it, nurture it, and grow it.

And if we want young people to help solve the world’s biggest problems, we must give them the tools, confidence, and support to start doing that today.

About Your People Power:

Your People Power is a workplace performance and wellbeing consultancy founded by Gina Buckney. We spotlight the organisations getting workplace culture right, inspiring leaders to create happier, healthier, and higher-performing teams.

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