Uptree

As year 12 and 13 students navigate their journey from secondary school to the professional world, they often may feel unprepared or find themselves lacking some essential soft skills. Moreover, the pandemic resulted in remote learning and missed development opportunities for young people with some leading companies reporting that it has negatively impacted their communication and office skills.

In our 2022 Student survey, we found that many students have fallen behind in the past few years, becoming isolated due to the pandemic and, therefore, are less likely to have received effective career guidance.

Covid has changed perceptions of how we look to communicate, with many students relying on technology and the internet to source information and interact.

To support these young individuals in developing interpersonal skills, the Uptree team runs an array of initiatives, including work experience days and networking events, online career lessons and application masterclasses in order to empower young people to make informed decisions, develop key skills and connect with employers.

Career events

Career events provide valuable opportunities for young people to interact directly with employers from a range of industries. For example, our FuturesUP careers event, ran each term, facilitates networking, allowing students to build connections with professionals and gain insights into different career paths.

By participating in face-to-face interactions, young people build meaningful connections and develop crucial communication and networking skills, enhancing their employability prospects. The networking experiences at our careers events support young people in refining their interpersonal skills, bolstering their confidence and deepening their understanding of the professional world.

At the same time, by joining FuturesUP or other career events, employers can identify individuals who possess the desired attributes aligned with their organisation’s needs. In order to do that, Uptree ensures a thorough process, enabling employers to engage with promising candidates and shape their development from the early stages of their careers.

Shape and nurture your future workforce by using our Careers Learning Platform

Our Careers Learning Platform (CLP) is a collection of online lessons which support students to develop their skills and learn more about the world of work. Through our platform, employers can play an active role in shaping young people’s industry knowledge and introduce them to some of the skills needed in their organisation.

Young individuals can learn about careers in different industries, develop essential skills and boost their employability. By using our platform, employers can showcase their company to our network of young people and tell their story, organisational culture and career opportunities.

Companies can also use our platform to showcase their apprenticeships, internships, early career programmes and attract an audience of young people who are interested in their industry and are likely to stay long-term. Organisations can benefit from this by building a pipeline of diverse talent that will help them grow.

Work Experience Days

Interactive work experience days are designed to provide young people with hands-on exposure to real workplace environments. These experiences allow students to shadow professionals, participate in sessions or industry-specific projects, and gain practical insights into their desired careers. For example, a student interested in technology could spend a day at a company’s Work Experience Day, where they’d visit the organisation’s offices and collaborate with some of the employees.

Such immersive experiences not only deepen young people’s understanding of their chosen fields but also enhance their problem-solving and communication skills as well as office skills. Work experience also enables young people to showcase their abilities, potentially leading to future internships or employment opportunities.

Employers can use work experience days to prepare students for what to expect at their company. At the same time, they can use employee volunteers from varying backgrounds and who have experienced different pathways into their company (graduates, apprentices, interns etc.) on a Q&A panel. Be prepared (and open) for a range of questions!

Students are valuing a hybrid working model more than ever post-pandemic. Be open and clear about what your company work structure is like. Offer insight into what working remotely is like vs. benefits of working in the office.

Application Masterclasses

Securing work experiences, internships or apprenticeships is a crucial step in a year 12 or 13 students career journey. We offer young people the opportunity to join application masterclasses in order to create compelling applications and excel in interviews.

Application masterclasses will also require active participation, motivating students to engage in new ways of thinking and acting in addition to gaining knowledge. This will lead to young individuals becoming more self-aware, reflecting, adapting and doing things differently. During the event, participants will also have the chance to work collaboratively in learning networks with peers and interact with professionals from the company, which adds to their ability to communicate effectively.

Apprenticeships

By offering apprenticeship opportunities, you can support young individuals by providing them with a comprehensive approach to their career development. At the same time, by bridging skills gaps and giving young individuals the necessary support, you can inspire them to become long-term assets to your organisation. Moreover, through practical, on-the-job experiences, apprentices develop the ability to articulate their ideas clearly, actively listen and effectively collaborate within a team.

Apprentices who have undergone Uptree’s careers learning courses or attended some of our events bring a solid foundation of communication skills and workplace knowledge, contributing to the overall success and growth of a business.

Another reason why companies should consider offering apprenticeship opportunities is the office skills and adaptability that comes hand in hand with them. Employers often require their workforce to have a solid understanding of office practices, technologies and workplace etiquette. Apprenticeships offer a valuable avenue for young individuals to acquire these essential skills.

Finally, in today’s dynamic work environment, the adaptability fostered through apprenticeships equips apprentices with the skills to navigate remote or hybrid work settings, ensuring they can communicate effectively through digital platforms and collaboration tools.

Investing in career development initiatives for young people not only fills skill gaps but also establishes a sustainable talent pipeline, fostering long-term success for employers in an ever-changing business landscape.

Contact the Uptree team to discuss how we could support your organisation with promoting Early Careers opportunities to a diverse future talent pool of young people.