Speakers for Schools

We couldn't be more proud to share our official campaign video 'Everyone Should Have A Work Experience Story'. A huge thank you to the amazing Lucky Generals for creating this hugely impactful film, and to all the celebrities who took the time to share their stories with us - and spoiler alert there's some real gems in there. If you believe, as we do, that work experience should be a right and not a privilege for the lucky few, please share this video and pledge your support for our campaign here: https://lnkd.in/eQG6pSng #workexperienceforall

Great to welcome 14 young people to our Hackney studio this half term for work experience arranged via social mobility charity Speakers for Schools. Over the morning, we offered an insight into working in an architect’s studio, collaborating with others and opportunities in the construction industry as well as a chance to meet our amazing staff. Hopefully showing them that whether you enjoy problem-solving, expressing your creativity, or are a whiz with technology, there’s something for everyone within this industry! #socialmobility #workexperience #socialimpact

As of today, YourGamePlan is an official Social Mobility Partner of Speakers for Schools, pursuing our shared goal to provide life-changing opportunities to state school/college students across the UK. Thanks to Ian Cooper and the Speakers For Schools team for making this happen 🤝❤️

🤩 We're excited to partner with Speakers for Schools the UK’s leading charity for #SocialMobility, they exist to level the playing field for 11-19 year olds by providing work experience placements. This week, we welcome two students to Truth, Nowfa Mohamed and Olivia Cheah, who will join us to explore and gain insights into our world of research and strategy.   Through this partnership, our aim is to provide students with the opportunity to learn new skills, create meaningful work they can be proud of, while collaborating with our team and our clients. Our partnership with Speakers for Schools is part of our commitment to #ED&I change in our industry and The Market Research Society (MRS) Inclusion Pledge: https://lnkd.in/dynjyiP   👏 A special thank you to Smriti Verma, Taiye Akin-Akinyosoye, and Catalina Oribe for being our Truth mentors for the week! #WorkExperience #Equality #Diversity #Inclusion

'Assumed knowledge', or the things that you might assume everyone instinctively knows about ‘how the system works', is skewed heavily towards young people from wealthier backgrounds, and those whose parents who have been to university. This led us to some striking findings. For example, more than a third of young people from less advantaged backgrounds failed to identify Cambridge as the most prestigious university from a list of institutions. Read more from Jack Kessler and The London Standard 👇 #AssumedKnowledge #SocialMobility #EqualOpportunity

The rate of students eligible for free school meals (FSM) progressing to university has fallen for the first time since it was first measured in 2005-06. A piece from Richard Adams and The Guardian that unfortunately fits a wider narrative around the increasing and concerning disadvantage gap. Our own ‘Double Disadvantage’ research suggests that unequal access to work experience, enrichment, and extracurricular activities is a barrier to entry into university for disadvantaged young people. All are essential for successful applications, and work experience in particular is looked for in personal statements on a third of occasions. However, we found that FSM pupils are less likely to have completed work experience, which could be a factor here. Additional new research on disparities in access to 'assumed knowledge' also showed that those on free schools meals are less informed about the A-Levels that are valued by prestigious universities, as well as other key knowledge around education and careers. We must ensure equal access to insights, information and support that play a crucial role in helping young people find the right path for them. #EqualOpportunity #DisadvantageGap #SocialMobility #WorkExperience #University

📢 Great opportunity from Speakers for Schools! Speakers for Schools has partnered with The HG Foundation to deliver a programme of high-impact interventions for young people in state secondary schools to encourage them to consider a career in the technology sector.    We’d like to offer your school the chance to participate in our ‘IntoTech’ programme which, in the pilot year, will give students in Years 10 and 11 the opportunity to experience the tech sector through inspirational talks, employer-led insight days, and work experience. Following the pilot year, schools will have the chance to progress into a 3-year programme which follows their Year 8 cohort through to the end of Year 10, providing students with a range of career-enhancing interventions including in-person inspirational talks in Year 8, virtual or in-person insight in Year 9, and virtual or in-person work experience in Year 10. Participation in this programme is fully funded, so there is no cost to the students or the school. In return, we ask you to support the evaluation process by providing all important feedback from students and supporting staff.  If you’d like to find out more information about our IntoTech Programme and how to get involved, please register your interest by completing this form before 5pm on 8 November: https://lnkd.in/eNFGGjRQ  

Our response to new research from The Key Group on the worrying lack of access to work experience: The findings provide a valuable overview of the current landscape of work experience in schools and major disparities in uptake that need immediate addressing. Substantial experience of the world of work is vital as it can genuinely level the playing field for all young people by demystifying careers and building awareness, confidence and networks. Read our full response to the report, outlining our extensive insight and evidence on this urgent but ultimately fixable issue, including our recommendations for the roll out of universal work experience 👇 #SpeakersforSchools #WorkExperience #Opportunity

Major new research published today from The Key Group reveals that: - Just 49% of year 10 pupils had completed some work experience and even when they did, the average length was under five days. - A mere 1.7% of pupils achieved the pledged 2 weeks of work experience. - Pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) and those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) participated less frequently compared to their peers. This is worrying but unsurprising news, as our own research has also revealed major inequalities in access to work experience. Our CEO, Nick Brook, responded to the findings, emphasising our own mission here and the continued disadvantage gap that exists: “Speakers for Schools’ ambition is that every young person has access to high-quality work experience by 2028, yet, right now, this data, alongside our own evidence, suggests more than half of young people leave school having had no work experience whatsoever. “We know that young people who do have work experience are typically from more affluent families as they often rely on parental networks to arrange it. We cannot have a system that relies on who your mum and dad know, or where they might work, to determine whether you have access to workplaces and potential future employers.” Read their full report 🔽 #WorkExperienceForAll #EqualOpportunity #Careers #SocialMobility

Did you know that those from less privileged backgrounds are twice as likely to end up in lower paying jobs? Too often our life chances are defined by our backgrounds, and it’s impacting our society, workforce and economy. Our new report with Demos reveals that the UK economy is missing out on £19bn in GDP growth every year due to a systemic failure to promote greater social mobility in the workplace. By amplifying underrepresented backgrounds, we can break down barriers to opportunity and open the door to a talent pool that deserves to be discovered. Join us in bringing #BackgroundsIntoTheForeground and advocating for better social mobility in business: https://lnkd.in/eQmrSn9u