The "Hang Seng Youth Career Planning Scheme," organised by SideBySide and fully supported by Hang Seng Bank, provides career development services for disadvantaged youth aged 16 to 30. Since its inception, the program has been running for ten years and has profoundly impacted the career paths and life journeys of many young people.
In recent years, changes in the social environment—such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the widespread application of artificial intelligence (AI), and the economic landscape, work models, and market transformations following the pandemic—have influenced young people's perspectives and aspirations regarding career planning. As times change, participants in the "Hang Seng Youth Career Planning Scheme" have also become more diverse. In addition to disadvantaged youth, the Scheme now includes more highly educated rehabilitated individuals, youth in mental recovery, and those with special learning needs. Over the past ten years, the Scheme has benefited 2,200 individuals, with 300 participating in work internships or shadowing experiences and 127 entrepreneurship funding projects awarded.
SideBySide Chief Executive, Anthea Lee (left) and Head of Corporate Communications and Community Investments, Hang Seng Bank, Betty Law (right)
The Scheme's content is designed to incorporate different elements in stages based on the needs of young people. It began with a focus on entrepreneurship training and support, then expanded to include shadowing experiences (2017-2019) and work internships (2020-2024), allowing youth to experience and explore various possibilities for career development in different ways. Over the past ten years, entrepreneurship training and startup grants have been very popular. In recent years, the awarded entrepreneurship funding projects have primarily focused on developing businesses based on personal interests and expertise, including customized blind boxes, snack teaching, music production, arts education, ceramic handicrafts, photography, coffee products and services, and tattooing.
(left)SideBySide Chief Executive, Anthea Lee; Head of Corporate Communications and Community Investments, Hang Seng Bank, Betty Law; Scheme participants Ka Wai, Scheme participants Nok
Related news in English:
South China Morning Post - Hong Kong career scheme aims to give disadvantaged youth employment footing