MAKE GOOD ACADEMY

Closing skills gaps, empowering communities

The Make Good Academy - formerly known as Goldfinger Academy - creates accessible career pathways for young people in our community.

We equip local talent with hands-on design, digital, and sustainability skills so they can directly enter -or advance within - the creative and built-environment sectors.

We partner with employers, councils and housing developers to co-design training pipelines that fill real vacancies. Our programmes:

  • Serve underrepresented youth and those excluded from traditional pathways
  • Deliver work placements, mentorship and portfolio-ready experience
  • Align with London’s urgent demand for creative and green skills
  • Strengthen the local talent pool and create new recruitment opportunities, bridging community and industry and helping our clients create positive impact and meet Section 106 obligations

Read our 2025 Impact Report

Get involved

There are many ways to support our programmes. From mentoring graduates, sponsoring a traineeship, speaking at events, or collaborating on a new Academy project – every contribution helps more young people to access design and craft opportunities.

Together, we can make an even greater impact.

  • Signpost to our traineeships

    Help a young person take their first steps into design and craft by referring them to our Future Makers traineeships.

    Get in touch 

  • Create more opportunities

    Fund places, tools, and materials, directly opening doors to Future Makers traineeships and career opportunities for young people who wouldn’t otherwise have access.

    Donate 

  • Support the next generation of makers

    Sponsor a one-week Future Makers traineeship - and step in as a “Dragon” at our end-of-programme ideas pitching day.

    Sponsor 

Our 2025 impact at a glance

  • 26 beneficiaries

    have taken part in Academy traineeships in 2025

  • 689 hours

    of free training and employability support given to young people in our community this year

  • 100%

    of 2025 Future Makers trainees have since gone on to further education, training or employment

MAKE GOOD ACADEMY

Future Makers

Future Makers is The Make Good Academy’s flagship programme, empowering young people aged 16 to 25 with woodworking and employability skills.

This free outreach initiative builds confidence and opens clear pathways to employment through practical training, career guidance, mentoring, and both paid and unpaid work experience.

The programme specifically supports learners from low-income backgrounds and those not in education, employment, or training, equipping them with the skills, insights, and self-belief to explore broader career opportunities.

Applications for Future Makers are currently closed. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear about upcoming programmes.

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  • 2024 Country & Townhouse Future Icons Awards

    Best Local, Community or Charity Initiative

  • 2023 Monocle Design Awards

    Best Training Programme

  • 2023 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster Business Awards

    Best Social Enterprise/Contribution to the Community