Employability, social mobility
and career development.
Ascenda Careers is an organisation dedicated to helping individuals overcome barriers to employment, education and career progression. Founded on lived experience, we bridge the gap between education, volunteering and meaningful work.
Meet Mao & Nora
Two founders combining lived employability experience with professional marketing and communications expertise — building Ascenda Careers from the ground up.
Mao (Ilona Gyurik)
Business Management Student, GBS
Ilona has built professional experience across retail management, hospitality management, administration, public sector services and volunteer support — including roles with the British Heart Foundation and the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
Throughout her career she has supported volunteers and jobseekers with CV writing, interview preparation and confidence building, helping many move into paid employment. These experiences inspired the creation of Ascenda Careers.
Nora Blaskovits
Director of Marketing & Communications
Nora brings expertise in public relations, marketing strategy, communications, brand development and community engagement. She leads brand awareness, partnership development, promotional campaigns and stakeholder communications for Ascenda.
She also coaches members on interpersonal and communication skills, LinkedIn presence and storytelling that helps them stand out in interviews and networking.
Vision
To create a future where every individual, regardless of age, background, circumstances or previous experience, has access to the support and opportunities needed to achieve meaningful employment and career progression.
Mission
- Improve employability outcomes
- Promote lifelong learning
- Support mature learners and encourage volunteering
- Reduce unemployment and increase social mobility
- Build confidence and resilience
- Connect education with employment
- Empower individuals to achieve their potential
Bridging education, volunteering and employment
Ascenda Careers is an employability, social mobility and career development organisation created from real-world experience supporting volunteers, jobseekers, mature learners and career changers. We focus on developing people before they enter employment — building confidence, employability skills, professional networks and practical experience.
Our vision is simple but ambitious: to prove that every individual can progress into meaningful employment when provided with the right support, opportunities, guidance and belief in their potential.
We work alongside universities, charities, community organisations and employers to create pathways into sustainable employment while promoting lifelong learning and social mobility.
A gap between talent and opportunity
Across the UK, thousands of students, volunteers, career changers and unemployed individuals face barriers to employment despite possessing valuable skills and experience.
- Lack of confidence and limited professional networks
- Difficulty identifying transferable skills
- Limited interview experience and employability support
- Career breaks or returning to education later in life
- Underestimating experience from volunteering, caring, retail, hospitality or admin
Meanwhile, employers report skills shortages and difficulty finding work-ready candidates.
Practical employability support
Covering CV development, cover letters, interview skills, LinkedIn, personal branding, networking, professional communication, goal setting and confidence building.
Partners, sponsors and charities — let's work together
We are actively looking for universities, employers, charities, community organisations and sponsors to collaborate with us. Together we can widen access to employment, fund workshops and mentoring, and create real pathways for students, mature learners and career changers.
Who we work with
Ascenda Careers collaborates with universities, charities, community organisations, volunteer centres, employers, social enterprises and employment support organisations to create real pathways into work.
Partnering with GBS University
Ascenda Careers is a student-led initiative developed within the GBS community. A partnership with GBS strengthens graduate employability, supports mature learners, deepens student engagement and showcases student entrepreneurship.
- Enhanced graduate employability and outcomes
- Additional support for mature learners
- Promotion of volunteering, mentoring and community participation
- Positive social impact through inclusion and social mobility
Measurable outcomes
- Reduced unemployment and increased employability
- Greater social mobility and stronger community engagement
- Improved confidence, wellbeing and educational participation
- Volunteer progression into paid employment
- Tracked workshop participation and employment outcomes
The next five years
Ascenda Careers aims to become a recognised employability and social mobility organisation operating across multiple universities and communities throughout the UK.
Rise to your future
Every person deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of age, background or circumstances. Become a member or partner with us today.