The Talent Foundry, KPMG UK and The Careers & Enterprise Company collaborated to develop a pilot model for modern work experience.
A recent report from The Key found that on average, only 49% of Year 10 pupils go on any kind of work experience.
Access to work experience relies on a postcode lottery. Disadvantaged groups and regions, and young people living in rural areas often miss out. A lack of work experience remains the top barrier young people will face in obtaining employment, according to the Youth Voice Census 2025.
At The Talent Foundry (TTF), we work to dismantle barriers to career visibility and access, including facilitating work experience opportunities. This summer term, we supported the delivery of a pilot programme in partnership with The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) and KPMG UK.
CEC recommended a new Modern Work Experience approach to ensure equitable access for young people to high-quality, multi-workplace experiences throughout Years 7 to 11, and we are proud to have played a role in its delivery.
This pilot is supporting the government vision for every young person between the ages of 11-16 to access 10 days' worth of work experience during their education.
Aims and objectives
Opening Doors to Opportunities (ODtO) is KPMG UK’s umbrella initiative for social mobility. This eponymous pilot was developed by KPMG UK and CEC with support from TTF and across a diverse set of employers across London.
The aim of the pilot was to provide high quality, in-person work experience and rethink traditional models.
TTF are longstanding advocates of the in-person approach, being well received and achieving significant and long-term impact from the perspectives of teachers and students. Virtual work experience can be complementary to in-person programmes.
This pilot gave students from under-served communities access to meaningful career experiences and diverse employers, providing scalable approaches to careers education for schools and employers.
How it worked
Drawing on knowledge of what schools need, TTF’s role was to help employers understand young people’s needs and act as a trusted link between schools and industry.
Opening Doors offered 92 students a day split between two workplaces. Four schools participated in a range of activities designed to boost confidence, broaden career understanding and develop practical skills. Students also enjoyed a post-programme celebration and reflection at KPMG UK’s Canada Square HQ.
As one teacher from Mulberry Academy Shoreditch reflected, “I loved that they got to go to two sites and saw the similarities and differences between both. I think it highlighted their own strengths for them and could be useful in making a decision about a possible career in the future.”
Challenges and obstacles
Engaging with schools is often the biggest hurdle for employers but our network of contacts and support from CEC’s Careers Hubs enabled us to deliver this essential pilot to schools in need. Logistics were also demanding – visiting multiple sites in one day – but immersion in real offices was our priority.
Managing expectations across schools, employers and students required balance, but feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
As the delivery partner, alongside our partners KPMG UK and CEC, we could bridge employer enthusiasm with school needs, ensuring inclusivity and practical impact.
One teacher from Excelsior Academy highlighted that it gave them easy access to top employers in the UK with minimal workload for staff.
Students improved their networking ability and were exposed to fantastic workplaces. They also praised the unique and age-appropriate activities.
Outcomes
Teachers highlighted the value of supportive facilitators who kept students motivated. One teacher from Heron Hall Academy shared: “The students were engaged throughout… One group was close to giving up and the TTF facilitator supported them with ideas and spoke through how to manage failure.”
Teachers also valued how the programme exposed students to different voices and role models. At Featherstone Academy, where 85% of students are EAL, one educator explained: “It was inspiring for [students] to hear stories of those who also do not have English as their first language and have been able to have successful careers.”
Several schools commented on the depth and breadth of learning made possible by visiting multiple employers. A teacher from Mulberry Academy Shoreditch said: “The programme was fantastic and led really well by TTF. Engagement was fantastic and volunteers worked really well with students. I loved how welcoming everyone was to our students... One of the best programmes on offer! Students now understand different roles.”
Students highlighted that the programme widened the different pathways they could take in the future, exposing them to new ways of using their skills.
One student described thoroughly enjoying the challenge and being “really engaged in the speeches.” They loved “learning and having fun at the same time.”
With programmes centred on developing communication skills and career building skills, our methods demonstrate the positive outcomes of a successful collaborative approach.
Collaboration with CEC ensured adherence to institutional frameworks including the Gatsby benchmarks and equalex, which supports a quality programme being underpinned by learning outcomes, whilst industry support enabled the workshops to be provided free of charge to students.
The pilot offered a practical way to support flexible, modern work experience, making it easier for schools to deliver high-quality careers education in line with Gatsby Benchmark 6.
The pilot aligned particularly well with our own new strategy, Ambition 2030, by providing young people with as much choice about their futures as possible.
The opportunity to have a variety of insight opportunities gives students more options for their futures, and with our own objectives in line with those of CEC and KPMG UK, the pilot achieved success for all parties.
Recommendations
For organisations or schools considering similar programmes, prioritising in-person events where possible is key, although virtual provisions are a helpful supplement. The depth of learning and confidence-building that comes from walking into a workplace cannot be replicated online.
Engaging schools early and designing interactive experiences is crucial. Students want to get involved, not just sit and write; they learn best when they are doing, not just observing.
Activities should give them a chance to practice their skills and have clear learning objectives and include time for reflection and for processing the experience, through presentations, discussions or celebration events, which help students consolidate their learning and make the programme more memorable.
Our role as workshop facilitators is at the core of our broader programme delivery expertise. We work to help careers education and support reach those who most need it, and the Opening Doors pilot aimed to give schools the chance to help young people access meaningful modern work experience. We helped make it easier for schools to deliver impact for young people, supporting the initiative of CEC and KPMG UK.
The TTF and KPMG UK Opening Doors to Opportunity pilot scheme underlined the importance of meaningful modern work experience, aligned to the updated guidance for schools.
Focusing on in-person depth and interactive workshops has created accessible, scalable and highly impactful programmes. The pilot also highlighted the impact of TTF’s delivery expertise in making these experiences accessible and meaningful for students and schools.
TTF invites schools and employers to learn from this pilot and explore new approaches – both in social responsibility measures and mobility initiatives.