"We should always put an equity sequence lens on all aspects of work... it makes such a difference to the way you think." #BreakTheBias

• Name: Karen Handley 
• Job Title: Head of Future Careers 
• Brief overview of CV background:

After graduating from Loughborough University with a STEM based degree (BSc management sciences), I started my career in consulting, supporting a wide range of sectors and organisations on skills development, with focus on supporting employers to achieve their Investor in People status.   

I then moved to work directly for employers, focusing on driving entry level strategy for organisations such as Balfour Beatty, Liberty Global and Virgin Media and now Virgin Media O2. During this time, I have built over 70 apprentice, intern and graduate schemes across the UK and Europe.  

I’m also a board member for the Institute of Student Employers, the UK’s leading independent voice for student employers, suppliers and education. 

• What their current role involves 

I lead on strategy and operation for entry-level talent acquisition and skills education to create a talent pipeline that meets the needs of today and the future.  

We use a specialist and complex programme involving data, planning and analysis to forecast key roles needed for the future, and designing apprenticeship, graduate and internship schemes, and upskilling and reskilling employees. 

• Favourite part of their job 

Most definitely giving all young people the opportunity to thrive at the start of the career – and knowing I am making a societal impact to helping young people as well as giving Virgin Media O2 the capability and diversity needs for talent pipelines. 

• Why they would encourage women/girls to go into the same profession 

We need to ensure that we continue to be role models for girls as well as being a strong advocates for young people - on career routes, development programmes, and the importance of STEM based careers – especially as over 75% of our early career programmes are STEM roles. 

• Advice on how to #BreaktheBias 

We should always put an equity sequence lens on all aspects of work... it makes such a difference to the way you think and apply ideas and solutions to get the best out of everyone and to #BreakTheBias.