Work experience was once a valuable part of the curriculum giving school children an insight into the world of work and preparing them for the future. In 2012 the Department of Education (DfE) removed the statutory duty placed on schools to enforce work experience and as such, 65% of young people leave school without experience, missing out on valuable skills. 

Speakers for School is on a mission to make work experience accessible for all, empowering young people from state schools to reach their potential. The charity has pledged to do this by convincing every political party to commit to a minimum of two work experience placements for every child in England, levelling the playing field for those without a private education.

In an environment in which many children from state schools may lack the professional connections of their private school peers, this initiative is extremely important. According to Speakers for Schools research shows that work experience is proven to impact access to higher-level employment and even an increase in salary. As it stands, unfortunately, 66% of kids are missing out on this vital stepping stone. Research also shows people with private education were twice as likely to have done multiple placements compared to young people from state-funded colleges. 

“The stats speak for themselves and over time we are seeing this inequality becoming greater.” added Dan Walsh, Chief Marketing Officer at Speakers for Schools. 

As part of the mission to bring back work experience, Speakers for School, a charity set up by political editor Robert Peston, has launched a campaign with the help of Lucky Generals and some celebrities willing to share their work experience stories. The campaign is broken into two parts, a campaign film featuring the celebrities and a Linkedin takeover as part of a social campaign #workexperienceforall. 

The campaign film sees Lucky Generals bring together celebrities such as Star chef Tom Kerridge, business leader Deborah Meaden, TV presenter Steph McGovern, comedian Guz Khan and Peston, who all have impactful memories to share of their time doing work experience. These hugely successful celebrities have excelled in their various fields and all have fond memories of their experiences and the way in which they helped shape their working personas in the future.

The household names talk about the way in which work experience impacted their lives. Deborah Meaden shares: “Bingo calling, pot washing, Leading ponies up Minehead seafront. What it did do was lead me to be an entrepreneur.  I still sometimes think, I know why I know that — I know that because of the bingo.” Reinforcing the fact that the programme can help to build transferable skills.

The film is backed by OOH and digital assets, supported by Mindshare, Clear Channel, Alright Media, and Snapchat, featuring lines such as ‘Don’t Let the Nepo Babies Win’. The work is targeted at the younger generation and their parents, and has three main aims; to make them aware they are at a disadvantage with the lack of work experience, to encourage feelings of injustice about it and then to make people feel empowered to do something about it. The hope is that the campaign will gain support and be able to reach political leaders up and down the UK.

The Linkedin takeover social campaign #workexperienceforall sees high-profile users on the platform encouraged to change their profile picture, bio and current job to that of their teenage self, reflecting their first work experience placement. The idea is that the profile will tell a story of personal growth and development showing the journey they went on to become their successful selves.

“There’s something fascinating about hearing what people did for work experience as it gives us an insight into a person’s teenage hopes and aspirations. Hope and aspirations that, sadly, a growing number of kids are finding it harder and harder to achieve because they don’t get that vital experience. And we want to change that.” says Paul Mallon, Head of Special Ops at Lucky Generals.

The campaign builds on a sense of togetherness and community to aim to bring people in and level the playing field for young people. Seeing adults nostalgically share their own experiences reminds audiences that future generations must also be afforded the same opportunities imperative to creating a more inclusive, better workplace for tomorrow.