Providers
Accenture
Accenture’s Skills to Succeed Academy is a free, online training programme which helps disadvantaged young people, aged 15 - 24, build skills and confidence to make career choices and develop employability skills.
https://www.accenture.com/gb-en/company-skills-succeed-academy-online-learning
Access Creative College
Access Creative College provides a destination for school leavers who want to follow their passion for a career in the creative industries. Access Creative College can offer support to deliver careers advice on the creative industries in your school. They provide creative careers guidance, workshops and work experience.
https://www.accesscreative.ac.uk/support-for-schools/support-for-schools/
Advancing Access
Advancing Access provides a variety of CPD resources and online events for teachers and advisers to help them support students’ progression to leading universities. The information and guidance on this website has been developed by the Advancing Access partnership of 24 leading universities. It will help you advise learners making their key stage 4, key stage 5 and university choices.
https://www.advancingaccess.ac.uk/
AgeUK Solihull Flourishing Fivers Scheme
Age UK Solihull have developed a Flourishing Fivers Scheme with schools in Solihull to get involved to help fundraise for local older people as well as developing pupil's entrepreneurial skills. The programme is aimed at Year 5 and above.
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/solihull/get-involved/fundraising/schools/flourishing-fivers/
Apprenticeship Support & Knowledge for Schools Programme
The Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge for Schools Programme is a free service to support schools in their statutory duties regarding the provision of impartial IAG, specifically in relation
to apprenticeships and traineeships.
https://amazingapprenticeships.com/about-ask/
Apps for Good
Apps for Good is an open-source technology education movement that partners with educators in schools and learning centres to deliver courses to young people 10-18 years of age. They provide the course content, training and connections to volunteers, and then let teachers do what they are best at – inspiring and guiding young people.
https://www.appsforgood.org/
Barclays Life Skills
LifeSkills, created with Barclays, consists of free, curriculum-linked resources, workshops for schools, lesson plans for teachers, online content and work experience opportunities.
https://www.barclayslifeskills.com/
Big Bang
The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair is the largest celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in the UK. It gives young people (primarily aged 7-19) the chance to try over 100 hands on activities and hear from inspiring engineers and scientists about the opportunities available in STEM.
Big Bang @ School Flyer
http://www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/
Birmingham Airport Flight School
Birmingham Airport welcome visits from schools and colleges and have a dedicated facility for visiting groups called Flight School. Flight School is located in the terminal building and has fantastic views across the airfield to excite and inspire children’s learning.
https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/about-us/educational-visits/
Birmingham Careers Service
Birmingham Careers Service provides trained and Level 6 professionally-qualified advisors to schools, academies and colleges to help you meet your statutory responsibilities to provide independent, impartial careers information, advice and guidance for your students from Year 8 upwards.
https://www.birminghamcareersservice.co.uk/traded/
Birmingham Museums
The Birmingham Museums education programme offers a wide range of stimulating and memorable on-site taught sessions, self-guided visits and outreach services at nine stunning venues, all designed to inspire and engage students. The site also includes classroom resources.
http://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/schools
Birmingham Professional Services
Now entering its fourth year, Professional Services Week is a week of activities across Birmingham for secondary schools to raise awareness of and enthusiasm for careers in the professional, financial and business services (BPS) sector. For the first time this year (2019) the event is branching out into Solihull.
https://sites.google.com/birminghamforward.co.uk/professionalservicesweek/solihull
Brightside Trust
Brightside is a charity that provide a bespoke online mentoring services, in conjunction with educational and industry partners, to help young people access educational and careers pathways that they may previously not have thought possible.
http://www.thebrightsidetrust.org/
Business in the Community
Business in the Community is a business-led charity with more than 30 years' experience of mobilising business through a range of programmes. Business Class is a government-endorsed programme, which provides a systematic framework for business to support young people facing social disadvantage by forming long-term partnerships with the schools.
https://www.bitc.org.uk/education/
Careers & Enterprise Company
The Careers & Enterprise Company are the national network that connects schools and colleges, employers and career programme providers to create high-impact careers opportunities for young people. To find out more about this programme and for some useful tools and resources visit the website.
https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/
Careers Lab
Through the Careers Lab programme, schools have invaluable access to ‘Business Ambassadors’ who bring their knowledge and experience of the world of work to the classroom. With a flexible, progressive framework of teaching materials for ages 11-16, it’s a collaborative and proactive way for businesses and teachers to open students’ minds to the workplace.
https://www.careerslab.co.uk/inspire/
Class Careers
Class Careers is a social enterprise that gives students direct access to employers at no cost to the school. Class Careers allows students the opportunity to engage with an employer through the power of online tools. The workshops are facilitated by a member of school staff and are delivered directly into classrooms , giving students the opportunity to chat with a company on a personal, one-to-one basis.
http://www.classcareers.co.uk/schools
CragRats
CragRats deliver careers, enterprise and STEM focussed programmes to schools. They offer a variety of careers programmes which are key stage appropriate, each one distinctive and age appropriate but also with links and continuity from the previous level.
http://www.cragrats.com/
Crest Awards
The CREST Awards scheme is the British Science Association’s flagship programme for young people, providing science enrichment activities to inspire and engage 5 to 19 year olds. CREST gives students the chance to participate in hands-on science through investigations and enquiry-based learning. It can be run in schools, clubs, youth groups, other organisations or at home.
http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/crest-intro
Education and Employers
The Education and Employers website includes an extensive and growing library of UK and International research resources addressing the impacts and delivery of employer engagement in education.
http://www.educationandemployers.org/research-main/
Engineering Development Trust
EDT delivers over 30,000 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) experiences each year, for young people age 11-21 across the UK. Their range of work related learning schemes provide opportunities for young people to enhance their technical, personal and employability skills through industry-led projects, industrial placements and specialised taster courses.
http://www.etrust.org.uk/about-edt
EDT also deliver a project called Industrial Cadets which is an industry led accreditation providing workplace experiences for young people aged 9-21, designed to create a skilled and enthusiastic workorce.
https://www.industrialcadets.org.uk/whos-it/educators
Entrepreneurs in Action
This organisation gives young people the taste of a real-life working environment. Learning activities are structured to encourage young people to be innovative, experiment and develop their potential as future entrepreneurs, creators and leaders.
http://www.theeia.com/
Envision
Community-Apprentice is an enterprise competition, underpinned by a skills development and citizenship programme.
The programme challenges KS4 students to deliver a project that benefits their community with the support of specialist facilitators and corporate mentors through a 10-hour programme of business mentoring.
http://www.envision.org.uk/
F1 in schools
F1 in Schools can be used as an education tool or hook to engage students in STEM subjects to give them the opportunity to develop key skills such as communication, presenting and team work. This education initiative provides the opportunity to run a real-life competition with students where they follow the same processes real Formula One teams follow from their initial business plan through to their car design.
https://www.f1inschools.co.uk/
First Tech Challenge
FIRST Tech Challenge UK is more than robots – teams of up to 15 take on industry roles to design, build and programme a robot, with support from an industry mentor, to compete in tournaments across the UK and beyond. By aligning to the curriculum and Gatsby Career Benchmarks, the programme helps young people develop the confidence, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills needed to take on tomorrow’s opportunities. Find out more about the programme and see if your school could be eligible for a fully-funded robotics kit.
https://www.firstuk.org/take-part-2/
Forum Talent Potential
Forum Talent Potential website has a range of good practice case studies of employer engagement linked to curriculum areas for teachers to download.
http://www.forum-talent-potential.org/good-practice/
Founders4Schools
Is a free nationwide service that enables teachers to connect with leaders of successful, growing businesses to invite them to visit their schools and inspire their students. Founders4Schools also support careers fairs and help arrange workplace visits.
https://www.founders4schools.org.uk/#/
Future First
Future First provides mentoring (and e-mentoring) services organised via school alumni networks which can provide insight on higher education and specific industry sectors to pupils as well as motivational guidance.
http://futurefirst.org.uk/
Future Talented
FutureTalentEd connects schools and businesses, enabling an information exchange between educators and employers. It supports careers leaders to deliver a world-class programme of careers guidance to students, meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks and bringing the world of work to life for the next generation. It is a free resource for educators.
https://futuretalented.co.uk/
Globalbridge
Global Bridge is a unique product which allows young people to showcase their talents to educational institutions and industry. It provides a connection between young people and the next step in their educational and professional life.
http://www.globalbridge.org.uk/
Grofar
Grofar is a SIMS integrated, careers guidance management solution that helps schools to meet Statutory Guidance, satisfy Ofsted and achieve the Gatsby Benchmarks. The software includes a student careers passport which ensures every student evidences careers activity and has access to aspirational careers advice, action plans and careers resources.
https://grofar.com/
I am Creative
I am creative is a programme delivered by the Ideas Foundation which brings students real creative briefs from some of the biggest companies in the UK who are looking for creative answers to real business problems.
http://www.iamcreative.org.uk/
I Care…Ambassadors
I Care…Ambassadors are care workers who visit schools, colleges and Jobcentres to deliver careers activities including talks, presentations, interactive group activities, attending careers fairs, mentoring and supporting a workplace visit or placement.
http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Recruitment-retention/I-Care...Ambassadors/I-Care...Ambassadors.aspx
http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Care-careers/Think-Care-Careers/Teachers-and-Careers-Advisors/Teachers-and-career-advisors.aspx
I'm a medic
The organisation aims to reach, inspire and empower aspiring doctors and clinicians by wideining access to medicine for students from all social backgrounds. They offer a range of programmes including mini medical school and aspiring doctors programmes. They also offer free resources on their website.
https://imamedic.uk/teachers/
ImpartIQ
ImpartIQ have free GSCE STEM applications with image and Youtube carousels. Also included are lots of careers ideas plus information on the skills employers are looking for, as well as content on their supporters like National Grid and Bayer. All these applications are available from the App Stores (iOS & Android).
www.impartiq.co.uk
Inspiring The Future
Inspiring the Future connects state schools and colleges with employers and people from the world of work. Teachers and volunteers are connected through a secure website, selecting people who best meet the needs of their students from a range of sectors and professions. Inspiring the Future also has an Inspiring Women and Inspiring Primary service.
http://www.inspiringthefuture.org/
Institute of Civil Engineers
This website contains thousands of resources and information on how to become a Civil Engineer, including study advice for 16-19 year olds and educational resources for both Primary and Secondary.
https://www.ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-engineering/inspire-the-next-generation/educational-resources
If you would like to book a free careers session for 16-18 year olds in Civil Engineering then please contact: careers@ice.org.uk
JCP Support for Schools
JCP Support for Schools is a free demand-led programme focused particularly on those young people at risk of becoming NEET or otherwise disadvantaged in the labour market, for example those with a health or disability issue. The programme offers practical support on vocational pathways, access to the Jobcentre Plus network of employers, and advice on the local labour market and employer expectations.
Contact: SCHOOLWORK.ADVISERSTEAM@DWP.GSI.GOV.UK for further information.
Learn by Design
Learn by Design is an educational consultancy which deliver interactive workshops in schools to motivate young people in science, technology and enterprise. As part of the school activities they provide is a programme called iRail which they will be delivering to schools in the GBSLEP area for no charge. To find out more visit the website or contact Louise Curd: louisecurd@bydesign-group.co.uk or 01827 316 297
http://www.learnbydesign.co.uk/
Learn Live
Learn Live is an interactive, live platform that opens up a world of opportunities and experiences for young people from the comfort of the classroom. Using the latest online technology, students can link with local businesses, national organisations and schools/colleges across the globe to interact in live sessions and discussions.
https://learnliveuk.com/education/
Make UK
Make UK specialise in electrical and engineering apprenticeships. They can offer schools a STEM Classroom session based at their Hub in Birmingham on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The sessions are hands on and include a tour of the facility with current apprentices. The sessions can be booked on: asevents@makeuk.org
https://www.makeuk.org/
Medical Mavericks
Medical Mavericks provide workshops for young people in primary, secondary and colleges promoting medical careers, providing after school club activities to teach young people about the range of careers within the medical profession. Key Stage 4 sports science courses are also offered.
http://www.medicalmavericks.co.uk/
MoneySense
MoneySense is an impartial financial education programme for 5-18 year olds designed to help young people towards a better financial future. The site includes resources for young people, teachers and parents.
https://natwest.mymoneysense.com/home
Mploy
Mploy Junior provide specialist Careers and Enterprise programmes for primary schools across the UK. Their programmes provide children with access to innovative and engaging activities that involve local employers, link to the primary curriculum and to the importance of Work Related Learning in the Ofsted framework.
https://www.mploysolutions.co.uk/employability/
MyBnk
MyBnk has created innovative, high impact and high energy workshops on topics such as savings, budgeting, public finance, social enterprise and start-up entrepreneurship. The workshops are suitable from KS2 onwards.
http://mybnk.org/about/what-is-mybnk/
MyKindaFuture
MyKindaFuture help students explore their career options post-education, be that apprenticeships, college, or university and graduate employment. They offer engaging activities run in schools, colleges and universities (such as their Bright Futures Societies, online challenges and workshops) where students are able to make themselves more competitive in the job market.
http://www.mykindafuture.com/
National Citizen Service
National Citizen Service (NCS) is open to 15-17 year-olds across England and Northern Ireland. Young people take part in adrenaline-fuelled activities, build confidence, gain independence and develop the skills employers value such as teamwork, decision making and leadership. NCS also allows teenagers to connect with their local community through social action projects designed and delivered by the young people themselves.
http://www.ncsyes.co.uk/
Pathway CTM
Pathway CTM provide an employability programme to support sixth form students to make their own decisions toward their futures. Some of the activities they offer include: work placements, apprenticeships, sponsored degrees, gap year opportunities, visits to local and national employers, employability skills training, tracking of students progress via peer 2 peer mentorship and teacher resources for careers guidance.
http://www.pathwayctm.com/
Premier League Enterprise for schools
Premier League Enterprise is joint-funded by the Premier League and Sport Relief and uses the backdrop of professional football clubs' business models to deliver enterprise education to inspire young people (Secondary school) and increase their aspirations and skills.
https://www.premierleague.com/communities/programmes/community-programmes/pl-enterprise
RedStart
The goal of RedStart is to put people in control of their finances, giving them the skills they need to successfully and sustainably manage their financial futures. They work with young people aged between 10 and 18 from a wide variety of schools and locations across the UK.
https://redstarteducate.org/
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force Recruiting Team offer a variety of activities to schools free of charge. The activities principally aimed at age group 15+ (Years 9-13), aim to enthuse and invigorate students, demonstrate the importance of good teamwork, clear communication and confident leadership.
To find out more contact: AFCOGloucester-RAF-Admin@mod.uk
Ryman National Enterprise Challenge
The Ryman National Enterprise Challenge is a full day enterprise programme open to all secondary schools in the UK. Open to full year groups the challenge is split into two categories KS3 and KS4. Working in teams of six the students work on real life business challenges, which are set by real life businesses. The winning team from each school will then represent the school at the National Finals.
http://www.nationalenterprisechallenge.co.uk/
SACU
SACU offers an independent and impartial source of careers information to students, parents and teachers. They provide access to a comprehensive range of careers services to schools and colleges across the UK in line with Ofsted requirements.
http://sacu-student.com/?page_id=5821
Social Mobility Business Partnership (SMBP)
SMBP is a volunteer led charity which brings together professional services firms, commercial organisations and professional sports teams committed to supporting students from low income backgrounds in their pursuit of a career, in particular, as a legal or finance professional. SMBP runs a programme in Birmingham.
https://smbp.org.uk/
Solutions for the Planet
Through delivery of a STEM and Enterprise programme with Key Stage 3 students (aged 12-14) the project aims to increase engagement amongst 12-14 year olds with employers: at least two quality engagements with an employer for each student, via mentoring, creating new sustainable relationships developed between schools and employers.
http://www.solutionsfortheplanet.co.uk/
Spark
Spark is a recently launched careers platform which delivers employer engagement using livestream webinars. The programme is free for all registered careers professionals, schools, colleges and individuals regardless of age, aptitude or ability.
https://www.sparkcareers.org/
Speakers for Schools
Speakers for Schools is a UK charity launched in 2011 helping state schools inspire their students and broaden horizons through access to the insights, experiences and expertise of today’s leading figures through free talks and more.
http://www.speakers4schools.org/
STEAM CO.
STEAM Co. are a charitable initiative that was co-founded to give communities the inspiration and resources to run their own STEAM Co. Day - a school day like no other, a day of creative thinking and doing activities across the crucial STEAM skills.
http://www.steamco.org.uk/home#collaboration
Stemettes
Stemettes run events and a schools programme for girls to meet STEM role models, learn STEM skills and see STEM in action. They hold events, but will also come in to schools and deliver interactive workshops.
http://stemettes.org/
STEM Insight
STEM Insight provides a unique opportunity for school or college staff to experience life in modern industry or a leading university to learn about the vast range of career opportunities and entry routes available to pupils studying STEM subjects. The five or ten-day placements equip teachers to bring careers to life in the classroom, inspire pupils, and enrich teaching using real world context.
https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-insight
STEM Learning
STEM Learning create opportunities to inspire young people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). They work with thousands of schools, colleges and STEM employers, to enable young people of all backgrounds and abilities to meet inspiring role models, understand real world applications of STEM subjects and experience hands-on STEM activities. STEM Ambassadors can help support schools with setting up STEM Clubs, helping with mock interviews, and giving career talks.
STEM offer to Secondary schools
http://www.stemnet.org.uk/
Street Style Surgery
Street Style Surgery runs creative workshops that teach young people a vast array of exciting new skills – from body popping to fashion designing, music production to film-making. Their creative workshops can form part of courses on citizenship, PSHE, Book Week, anti-slavery, world days, global entrepreneurship etc.
http://www.streetstylesurgery.co.uk/
TeenTech
TeenTech run lively one-day events, with a year-round supporting awards scheme, to help young teenagers see the wide range of career possibilities in Science, Engineering and Technology. They work collaboratively with companies, Universities, business organisations and education business partnerships to build sustainable and imaginative programmes focussing on regions of greater social need in the UK and Europe.
http://www.teentech.com/
The Brilliant Club
The Scholars Programme places PhD researchers to deliver programmes of academic enrichment to pupils from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 5. They recruit, train and place doctoral and postdoctoral researchers in schools to deliver programmes of university-style tutorials, which are supplemented by two university trips and a range of other opportunities.
http://www.thebrilliantclub.org/the-brilliant-club-for-schools/support-and-materials/
The Diana Award
The Diana Award’s Mentoring Programme pairs year 8-10 students with volunteers from the world of work. Over the course of 5-6 months Mentors work with student Mentees to give them careers skills, an insight into the world of work and help them develop a social action project around an issue they feel passionately about. The programme targets students who are about to start their GCSE’s but are at risk of disengaging from education.
https://diana-award.org.uk/mentoring/
The Princes Trust
Mosiac, an initiative of The Prince’s Trust, was founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2007 to create opportunities for young people of all backgrounds growing up in our most deprived communities. The Secondary School Mentoring Programme is a fully funded and accredited programme that connects trained volunteer mentors from different professions to schools across the UK and works with them to help raise aspirations of pupils to better fulfil their potential. They also offer a Primary School Mentoring Programme as well.
https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/help-for-young-people/programmes/mosaic
The Wonder Why Society
The Wonder Why Society offers materials to set tasks, develop thinking and engage students with subjects. They outline curriculum coverage and can be used as evidence towards learning objectives. The Wonder Why Society can be used in any subject to enhance digital skills, teach online safety and to promote British values/SMSC themes.
http://www.thewonderwhysociety.co.uk/
The WOW Show
The WOW Show is a live online channel creating real-life encounters with the world of work to inspire young people about their futures. The resources are free and designed for use by all Year Groups – available to view on demand anytime, anywhere on any connected device.
https://info.thewowshow.org/ncw
Tinies
As the largest UK network of childcare recruitment agencies, Tinies Childcare are raising awareness of the large number of opportunities for employment in the childcare industry and would welcome the opportunity to work in partnership with local schools and their careers advisor network to promote the opportunities that exist in the childcare sector.
https://www.tinies.com/schools-support.html
Tycoon in Schools
Tycoon in Schools is a free national enterprise competition spearheaded by Peter Jones CBE, entrepreneur and star of Dragons’ Den, which gives young people the chance to run their own business. The competition is open to applicants aged 5-18 years, attending primary or secondary school in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, from both the private and state sector.
https://www.tycoon.com/
U-Explore Start
Start is a careers guidance software helping young people to make informed choices about their career path. Connected to live labour market information and course data, Start allows users to create a personal profile which generates suitable jobs, qualifications and new destinations to explore. Ideal for schools and colleges, students and parents, Start is free to use.
https://website.u-explore.com/
VEX EDR
In the VEX Competitions, presented by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, teams of students are tasked with designing and building a robot to play against other teams from around the world in a game-based engineering challenge.
http://www.vexrobotics.com/vexedr/competition
Visionpath Education
Visionpath deliver inspirational learning programmes for young people, led by expert facilitators and developed with leading businesses. Their projects help students to build core skills vital for their future success, such as collaboration, communication, creativity and clear thinking.
http://visionpath.co.uk/
VIY (Volunteer It Yourself)
VIY combines volunteering and DIY by challenging young people aged 14-24 to learn trade skills by helping to fix local youth club and community buildings in need of essential repairs. VIY projects are set up and delivered in partnership with local youth groups and organisations, schools, colleges, local councils and Jobcentre Plus.
http://www.volunteerityourself.org/
WISE
WISE inspires girls and women to study and build careers using science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). WISE delivers workshops to inspire girls (15-22) into careers in engineering, construction and the built environment.
https://www.wisecampaign.org.uk/
World Skills UK
WorldSkills UK is the educational organisation that brings together WorldSkills UK Competitions, The Skills Show and WorldSkills UK Champions. The Skills Show is a free to attend show.
https://www.worldskillsuk.org/
Career Planning toolkit: https://www.worldskillsuk.org/the-skills-show/career-planning-toolkit
Young Enterprise & Young Money
Young Enterprise & Young Money provide employability, enterprise and financial education programmes, resources and teacher training, with the aim of reducing youth unemployment, help young people realise their potential beyond education and empower a generation to learn, to work and to live.
https://www.young-enterprise.org.uk/what-we-do/
Youth Sport Trust (YST)
Through YST's expertise and partnerships with primary schools, secondary schools and special educational needs practitioners over the past two decades, they have developed unique solutions to maximise the power of sport to grow young people, impacting on their wellbeing through physical literacy and character. The website includes costed and free resources for schools.
https://www.youthsporttrust.org/