1980

A group of business people and the London Borough of Hounslow’s Education Department together created the ‘Industry Education Working Group’ (IEWG).

1989

The IEWG became the Hounslow Education Business Partnership (HEBP forged close links with contacts in schools across Hounslow; ensuring that as many students as possible were engaged with a diverse range of career services.

The staff of HEBP would later be based at the London Borough of Hounslow, with direct input from schools, companies, the Careers Service and other West London training organisations.

2000

With close links to Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK), HEBP moved into their new building in Brentford. We have been there ever since.

2010

We obtained charitable status and began trading as ‘Hounslow Education Business Charity’.

2011

The Department for Education abolished funding for Education Business Partnerships. The staff and assets of Hounslow Education Business Partnership (HEBP) were formally transferred to the Hounslow Education Business Charity.

2012

We rebranded as Spark!, established to operate in Hounslow, across west London, and beyond.

2021

A new strategic approach, alongside a new vision, mission and values was published, with a focus on building place-based partnerships across the 7 west London borough of Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow, alongside the objective of developing high impact services directed towards young people who will most benefit.