KFC ARE set to launch an inclusive members club, The Kentucky Club, to help give young people a fair shot at a first job. 

Opening at The Compound in Birmingham on October 27, The Kentucky Club will offer a mix of inspirational talks from some famous faces and popular YouTubers Nella Rose and Luke Vernon, alongside networking and job opportunities, and practical skills development from partners including UK Youth, RockCorps, 4Skills and LadBible. 

But unlike traditional members clubs, The Kentucky Club will be free and open to 16–24-year-olds, whatever their background or walk of life, with tickets available for the one-day event through Eventbrite. 

The launch of the Kentucky Club is the latest move from KFC to open more doors for young people into the world of work, building on the roll-out of ‘Hatch’, a national youth employability programme designed and delivered with UK Youth, launched last year.

‘Hatch’ will help some 6,000 young people across the UK who have faced barriers to employment land their first job.

Young people graduating from the Hatch programme will be automatically enrolled into the Kentucky Club, giving them continued access to learning and job opportunities and importantly – community. 

As the youngest city in Europe, with under 25s accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the city’s population, and with the number of young people out of work substantially greater than the national average, Birmingham was seen as the ideal location to host the first Kentucky Club pop-up.  

It comes as new research from KFC and UK Youth finds growing economic uncertainty and unequal access to opportunities is holding many young people back from landing their first job. 

The study of over 4,000 16–25-year-olds found that 65 per cent of young people believe there is not enough support available to help them get into work, with a further 61 per cent saying it is hard to land a job without a connection or a ‘way in’.  

The Kentucky Club aims to change that, with the programme for the day designed in collaboration with young people and with the specific needs of young people who have faced barriers to employment, be they social, economic, domestic, or mental health, in mind 

Alongside inspirational talks, panel discussions and workshops from famous faces including YouTubers Nella Rose and Luke Vernon, attendees will also get to watch and take part in a special live recording of the 3 Shots of Tequila podcast. 

A Kentucky Club ‘lucky spin wheel’ will also feature prizes, from 1-2-1 career mentoring sessions with senior KFC leadership and work experience opportunities.

Attendees will also be able to pick up exclusive personalised Kentucky Club merch including tote bags and t shirts, and enjoy delicious, free KFC.   

By 2030 a third of all new hires into KFC will be young people who have faced barriers, coming through the Hatch programme. 

Meg Farren, General Manager at KFC UK & Ireland said: “At KFC we believe every young person who wants a job should be able to get one. After all, we’ve been the first job for thousands of people in the UK. But without the right connections, experience or even background, getting that first job can feel impossible for so many young people today. That’s why we’re opening the doors of our first ever members club with a twist.  

“The Kentucky Club will offer the networking, mentoring, skills development and access to jobs and opportunities that you may get from traditional members clubs, but without the exclusivity or price tag, Through the Kentucky Club and our youth employability programme ‘Hatch’ we want to give all young people a fair shot at a first job.” 

Ndidi Okezie, CEO at UK Youth said: “There are thousands of young people across the UK without the opportunity, support or key skills needed to secure stable employment – the lingering effects of the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis have only made the situation harder. 

“Government support and investment in young people is vital – but so is the partnership between youth work and businesses, if we want to help the next generation succeed.

“That’s why we are incredibly proud to be working with KFC on our Hatch employability programme to help thousands of disadvantaged young people develop the confidence and skills they need to succeed. 

“The Kentucky Club is a fantastic project which will provide essential networking, mentoring and skills development to young people – we’re delighted to be supporting it as a partner.” 

3ShotsofTequila added: “We cannot wait to bring our podcast to the Kentucky Club and share the stage with some amazing brands, performers and inspiring young people – come join us for an exclusive recording. 

“We always try to make 3ShotsOfTequila an inclusive and informative podcast, which is why we love what KFC and Youth UK are doing with Hatch. The Kentucky Club should be an exciting next step for the programme. See you there.”