What to expect at a FuturesUP event
FuturesUP is a multi-industry networking event where you have the chance to interact with multiple companies on the same day.
It is packed full of opportunities to speak with employers from different industries and find out as much as you can to start planning your future. There are lots of opportunities open to young people these: apprenticeships, degree-apprenticeships, work experience placements and internships – just to name a few.
FuturesUP gives you the chance to find out more about these different options and talk to people who are currently undertaking them. It also gives you the chance to network with a wide range of different employers who are there to tell you about the best ways to apply for their roles.
Networking is really important and can help you gain great opportunities and FuturesUP is the perfect place to do this.
Research shows that if you meet just 4 employers while you are at school, you will be 5 times more employable when you leave!
If you haven’t been to a FuturesUP event before – don't worry! It's a first time for many other students, too, and this blog will take you through the day and let you know what to expect.
FuturesUP, hosted at Google (October 2019)
Inspirational talks
Throughout the day, you can expect to hear inspirational talks from some incredible people. We aim to find people from all walks of life to show students that no matter your circumstances, you can achieve anything you want as long as you work hard for it. This is the perfect opportunity to listen to other people’s journeys and let yourself be inspired by what they have to say. The main thing we want you to take away from this is that there is no singular right path – everyone is different and will take different routes into the career that they want.
Careers Panel
The careers panel usually features those who have just started their careers – they may be on an apprenticeship, just graduated or completing a degree apprenticeship. The panel gives students the chance to hear about the panellist’s experiences and to ask them questions about what it is like to be in the role they are currently in. This is a great chance to hear first-hand what an apprentice at one of our partner companies may be like.
You will get to hear about what these people do on a day by day basis and whether or not their schedule would be the right fit for you. It is a great opportunity to learn more about different industries from those who have only just started in them themselves.
Speed Networking
Speed networking is one of the highlights of a FuturesUP event. This gives students the chance to speak to all of the employers that are attending on the day. It works just like speed dating! Students sit in groups and different employers move round in 5-10-minute intervals, so every student has a chance to see everyone. The employers get the opportunity to tell the students a little about their company and the role that they have, as well as answer the student’s questions. This is a great time to gather more information as well as ask the employers any specific questions you may have. The group sizes are kept small, so it is less daunting than asking a question in front of a huge crowd (although we encourage you to do this too!).
Information and Stalls Sessions
If you didn’t think speed networking was enough of an opportunity to talk to employers, don’t worry – you will also have time to talk to them on a one to one basis. Usually during lunch, the employers will be set up at different stalls (like a careers fair) which gives students the opportunity to speak to employers and ask them more specific questions.
Just like a careers fair there will usually be lots of goodies to take away as well; you may never need to buy another pen after attending a FuturesUP event! It is also a great time to grab as much information as you can – especially the companies’ leaflet so you can continue your research later on when you get home.
Group challenge with professionals
This is an exciting opportunity for students to take part in a group challenge with the help of professionals. The group will be set a task which they will have to complete in a set amount of time. The groups are partnered with professionals who can help by listening to their ideas and providing some of their own. The students will then have to pitch their result to a different set of employers. They will receive feedback from both sets of employers about what went well in their group and how they can improve in the future.
This is a great chance for students to impress employers as well as get a taste of what a task in an assessment centre may be like. At the end of the day, based on the employers’ feedback, we pick a group to be a winner and they may even win a little prize! Overall, it is a great time to be creative and have a bit of fun, whilst also getting to connect with employers more.
Upcoming opportunities
As you can see, FuturesUP is an amazing, fun event that centres around allowing young people to make connections with a vast range of different employers from various different industries.
If you would like to attend a FuturesUP event, take a look at the ones we have coming up in 2020:
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#FuturesUP in Birmingham at PwC – 5th February
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#FuturesUP in Newcastle at PwC – 6th February
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#FuturesUP in Bristol at PwC – 10th February
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#FuturesUP in London at Clifford Chance – 12th March
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#FuturesUP in Manchester at PwC – 9th July
If you would like to see what a day at a FuturesUP event looks like, take a look at our video from our 10th FuturesUP event , hosted at Google in October 2019!
This day is really what you make of it, so if you do get to attend a FuturesUP event in 2020, make sure to come to it with a positive attitude and a pocket full of questions to get the information that you need to start thinking about your future
By Kelly Norrington
Published on:
Wed 8 Jan 2020