With the pandemic threatening established programmes that help young people explore the world of work, the feedback from our first ever virtual work experience programme proves that, working creatively, we can find new ways to raise the aspirations of young people and engage our customers.
Nicola and Rose, Community Managers at Broadgate and Regent’s Place, and Louis Howell, Founding Director of consultancy 7PK and social enterprise Revolution Hive, reflect on our first virtual work experience week and what it means for the future.
Their ideas blew my mind
Rose: We weren’t sure how the programme would go, and the virtual set-up was strange at first, but over the five days everyone really connected. We brought together experienced professionals from Regent’s Place businesses and the wider area, who supported students from local schools to imagine and plan their dream event on the campus, through interactive webinars and group sessions online. Together, we explored areas like planning, marketing, community engagement, risk assessment and budgeting. Then the students pitched their ideas to us at the end of the week.
Louis: I led the young people through a masterclass on virtual presentations and pitches. At the start, we could see that many of them didn’t have experience in this area, or maybe hadn’t even thought about using storytelling to win people over. By the end, I wanted to cry. We’re going to live in a good world because of young people like them. Their ideas blew my mind. It was beautiful.
They created plans for an event that goes back to the start of humanity, taking inspiration from the book Sapiens. They talked about how, as humans, we started from a place in East Africa and went on a journey to inhabit different places and set up civilisations. And that their event would draw on this to bring together people from diverse backgrounds, with different experiences, showcasing what makes them valuable and creating a shared experience that helps us build trust together.
Rose: The young people were amazing. Even though they hadn’t met before, they worked fantastically as a team. Their ideas were authentic and creative. When live events are possible again, we hope to make their event a reality. We’ve hosted several successful youth-led events at Regent’s Place before and we’d love to do more.
Collaborating to create greater opportunities
Rose: I came away from the sessions inspired by the young people and excited about the upcoming programmes we’re planning with partners at Broadgate and Regent’s Place. We got some incredible speakers and panellists, including Regent’s Place customers Dentsu Aegis Network and FLYKICK and local partners such as Global Generation. It was a really dynamic week.
Nicola: We always encourage our customers and community partners to use us as a resource; there are so many ways we can bring people together to create greater opportunities. Now is a good time for innovation and creativity, so – unexpectedly – we can reach more young people and engage more customers than ever before.
Louis: Innovation is something you live and breathe – and it comes from the range of stakeholders you engage with. Young people and the organisations that work with them are coming up with ideas and ways of working that will shift where businesses go. So, if you’re not already in dialogue and building relationships with young people and those organisations, you’re falling behind.
Time is so valuable
Nicola: Work experience is crucial to breaking down the barriers that can stop people from different backgrounds being able to access careers. Never underestimate the impact that you can have on a young person’s life, spending even half an hour sharing your career journey and listening to them. Time is so valuable. Programmes like this are part of how we’re all going to be able to recruit more diverse talent in the future.
Louis: Work experience shouldn’t be seen as a standalone event. It’s a strategic move that links to early careers, talent pathways, community engagement and cognitive diversity. Working with partners like Broadgate and Regent’s Place, it can be easy to facilitate activities like this; it doesn’t have to take lots of your time.
Rose: Volunteering is a two-way exchange. We have as much to learn from young people as they have from us. To become more articulate or better at managing people, my top tip would be to take on a teenager! The feedback from the panellists and professionals was that they loved being part of this. There was so much hope and enthusiasm. If the future is in the hands of young people like these, then it is bright indeed.
Feedback from students
“I loved getting to meet and work with a bunch of really different, creative, intelligent people who were all incredibly enthusiastic… to speak to professionals about their work and career experiences and hear advice from people who have actually ‘made it’.”
“Meeting such driven and intelligent people was one of the best parts of this. Our team all got along with each other and we all respected each other’s ideas and it made this a real team effort.”
Top tips from panellists
“Commit to your craft with passion. Don't wait for others to teach you – cultivate your curiosity, develop a creative discipline in your daily practice and be open to learning opportunities whenever they arise. Adopt that mindset and you'll be on the right track.”
“You're able to access more information and experience more of other cultures than any other humans that ever lived. Embrace that fact, combine it with your passions and remember that kindness is greater than ambition.”
We support work experience programmes as part of Bright Lights, our skills and employment programme.
Our first virtual work experience week was delivered in partnership with Camden Council and education charity Speakers for Schools. External volunteers included Louis Howell of 7PK and Revolution Hive, creative storyteller Alain ‘Fusion’ Clapham, Giorgia Lauri of Global Generation, Jean-Claude Charnier of Lionbeat, Miranda Paine of FLYKICK, Rachel Johnson of Phoenix Court and Rosie Birchenough of Dentsu Aegis Network.