Teenagers given the chance to boost their employability skills with ‘behind-the-scenes’ visits to some of the UK’s most influential businesses
Wednesday 2 December
Over 1050 students, aged 16-19, from schools and colleges across the UK, descended on London on Monday 30 November, where they got exclusive ‘behind the scenes' access to over 50 of Britain's most influential employers.
‘A Capital Experience' - organised by aspiration-raising business education programme Career Academies UK - saw an impressive range of employers (including BP, Channel 4, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer , JP Morgan, and Marks and Spencer) open their doors to students, many from diverse backgrounds and areas of social need who would not normally have access to such opportunities.
In the morning the young people got the chance to boost their employability skills through workplace tours. They also took part in Q&A sessions, with several of them getting the unique opportunity to grill company bosses about what life is like at the top. These senior figures included Kevan Jones MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence, and Andy Haste, CEO of leading insurance group RSA.
Then in the afternoon, students gathered at the National Theatre to participate in a range of business-related activities, led by motivational speaker Dave McQueen. During the inspirational session, serial entrepreneur Shaa Wasmund and Accenture Partner Tim Robinson also shared their own career journeys with the teenagers. Status - the current UK Street Dance Champions for 2009 - made a guest appearance.
Martyn Drain, Acting Chief Executive of Career Academies UK, said: "At a time when youth unemployment is at a record high and young people are leaving school without the skills they need to succeed, ‘A Capital Experience' is more relevant than ever. The day is designed to provide teenagers with inspiring, work-related learning experiences and open their eyes to what is available if they aim high. Our hope is that that after visiting the workplaces of some of the UK's biggest employers, they will realise that a successful future career is not just a dream and is fact well within their grasp."
Here's what some of our students had to say:
"The day was interesting and really inspired me to do the Career Academy. I still don't know what sector of business I want to go into but hopefully after the Career Academy I will have a clearer picture. The day really opened my eyes." - Student - North Oxfordshire Academy
"A Capital Experience was fantastic and really positive. In the morning we visited Lloyds TSB and found out what they do. It made me really excited about my internship in the summer as it will be valuable life experience and look great on my CV." Student - The Kings School, Grantham
"It was an awesome day. Great chance to meet new people and get to know each other better too" Student - King Edward VI College, Nuneaton
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