The role that educators can have on a young person’s future wasn’t lost on me growing up in Oxford as an only child to two committed teachers. My mum is still passionately involved in education, so much so that she never quite managed to retire, despite trying twice. I attended the comprehensive school where my mum was Head of Sixth Form—a time that definitely taught me as much about resilience and diplomacy as it did about academic subjects. Back then, I had pretty ambitious academic dreams, but they were definitely tempered by less than amazing exam results.

My career ambitions back then included everything from hairdressing to space travel, to street dance, with a firm resolve not to follow in my parents’ footsteps and become a teacher. Eventually, I stumbled into digital marketing thanks to a friend’s introduction to the music industry. I vividly remember expecting job offers to come my way, only to find myself bizarrely either underqualified or overqualified for almost every entry-level role I applied for.

Today, I believe it’s even tougher for young people to find that first role and enter the working world. There can be an expectation from employers that they should somehow be fully formed —already equipped with the skills, experience, attitude, and passion, before they've had any real-world work experience. It’s a tough, and arguably somewhat unrealistic, expectation.

At ADventure, Brixton Finishing School’s nationwide outreach programme for 14-19-year-olds, we’re on a mission to connect with young, underrepresented talent as early as possible—as they start to think about their first job. Our goal is to inspire and support talent by helping them find a role that excites them and giving them the guidance to upskill and prepare for the workforce.

Since its launch in 2021, the ADventure programme, created by BFS non-exec director Yasmin Arrigo, has focused predominantly on inspiring career talks in schools and youth organisations.  These have occurred both online during the pandemic and in person, delivered by a team of 300 amazing industry volunteers, reaching an estimated 35,000 diverse, young people across the UK. This September, we’ll be launching an e-platform to turbocharge our reach in the hope of seeing more brilliant but underrepresented talent flourish in fulfilling careers within the creative industries.

As a parent of teenagers and an Enterprise Advisor volunteer in local secondary schools, I’m acutely aware of the intense pressure students face, especially in Years 10 and above. It can be overwhelming and confusing to figure out which career path to pursue and what goals to set. Schools are under tremendous pressure too, often with limited resources, relying on careers advisors and teachers to be well-informed about a vast array of industries - as well as having to have the network and connections to be able to secure work experience opportunities at scale. That’s why ADventure is committed to supporting both students and schools in this challenging landscape.

We know the 'attainment gap' is a significant issue - and one that’s also a priority for the new government. Catherine McKinnell, Schools Minister for England, recently expressed deep concern about the inequalities in our education system, noting that where you live and the type of school you attend still have a significant influence on your opportunities.

Stepping in as Head of Adventure—without a doubt the best job title I’ve ever had—is incredibly exciting. I’ve long admired the pioneering work of Brixton Finishing School and the vision of Ally Owen, its founder.  My husband, Seb Royce, who’s an executive creative director, has done extensive mentoring with BFS and other creative organisations - and I’ve seen first hand the transformative impact good mentoring and creative learning content can have. I’m eager to drive meaningful progress in the months ahead.

Our forthcoming platform and upscaled reach has been made possible through vital support from the Marketing Skills Trust, and I’m looking forward to collaborating closely with them, as well as our incredible industry partners.

We’re fortunate to have the support of some brilliant organisations like DCM, Clear Channel, News Works, JC Decaux, Fandom, and TikTok, among others - and there’s always room for more supporters so I’d love to hear from you! As professionals privileged with opportunities in the creative industries, it’s our collective responsibility to ensure that more young people have the chance to experience the diverse and stimulating work our industry offers.