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Advantage al British
A programme for English Language Learning for Disadvantaged Youth in Florence
Designed and delivered by The British Institute of Florence
A Working English session at Istituto IPSSEOA A. Saffi
Advantage al British is a programme for teaching English to disadvantaged young people in Florence.
In Italy, knowledge of English is the most important soft skill required for work. Fifty per cent of job interviews in Italy are conducted in English. A recent survey found that 95% of employers are looking for people with good English and that 41% of candidates were not selected because their English was not good enough.
Though Florence is a relatively wealthy area of Italy, about 12% of the population still live in poverty. The opportunity to learn English properly can transform the life chances of disadvantaged young people in Florence, where good English is an absolute requirement for employment in key sectors such as hospitality, tourism and fashion.
Advantage al British is a programme that offers Florence’s best English teaching to these young people so that they can find good jobs and succeed at life.
The Project:
Thanks to generous support from Paul and Maggie Brown, we have completed a two year build-and-test phase for Advantage al British - and are now ready to scale up the programme.
Starting in autumn 2025 we will offer the following opportunities to the students of three technical colleges which serve disadvantaged communities in Florence:
- 20-hour English courses for the hospitality/tourism sector
- Cambridge exam preparation courses – levels A2, B1, B2
- Special 'Working English' workshops covering English for work and soft skills – CVs, job interviews, communication, presentations.
We aim to help 500 young people improve their English significantly this year, with growth targets to 750 in 26-27, and 1000 in 27-28.
We have the endorsement of the Comune di Firenze for this social initiative and are building partnerships with the corporate sector in Florence to help fund it. However, to fully achieve our targets we need all the support we can get. If you would like to know more and maybe get involved, please contact director@britishinstitute.it.
Help us help the young people of Florence!
Left to right: Paul Brown; Francesca Lascialfari, director of Istituto IPSSEOA A. Saffi; Simon Gammell, director of The British Institute of Florence; Lorenzo Gallorini, a student who participated in the Advantage programme at Istituto Saffi, and was awarded a scholarship to perfect his English in the UK, thanks to the Monte San Martino Trust