On 22nd May, Springpod hosted an event with a difference, one where students weren’t just in the audience, they were leading the conversation. We created space for them to speak openly about what’s working, what’s not, and what early careers support should really look like.

What followed was a day of honest discussion, fresh insight, and a clear call for change. Less of a careers event, more of a wake-up call - a moment to pause and reflect on how we’re truly supporting the next generation.

Set in the exceptional surroundings of The Vincent Rooms - a working restaurant run by the student chefs and hospitality trainees of Capital City College - this event was about far more than fine dining. It was a deliberate decision to centre students in the very environment where opportunity is being created every day.

If we want to create early career experiences that genuinely make a difference, we need to start by listening. This blog captures real insights and reflections from our recent Impact Amplified Lunch and Learn - including honest thoughts from students, and practical ideas for anyone working in early talent.

“Back people for their potential”

The event opened with a powerful keynote from Chisola Chitambala - former Apprentice finalist, entrepreneur, and fierce advocate for equity. But it wasn’t her accolades that struck a chord. It was her honesty.

She spoke about starting her career sweating over the grill at Nando’s, balancing shifts with university, and failing her A-levels - twice. But more than anything, she reminded the room of the life-changing impact of being seen.

She shared a pivotal moment early on: applying for a role she wasn’t qualified for at Nando’s HQ. She didn’t get the job — but someone saw her potential. Instead of turning her away, they created a role just for her.

“She saw something not in my CV, but something in me… That changed my life. Not by handing me something - but by seeing me.”

It was a message that landed hard: talent isn’t always visible on paper, and success rarely follows a straight path. Real opportunity means noticing the person who doesn’t tick every box, and backing them anyway.

Measuring more than numbers

Following Chisola’s keynote, Springpod’s COO Andy Dillow took to the stage to share the journey behind the organisation’s newly launched Social Return on Investment (SROI) framework - developed in partnership with GIST Impact.

“It’s about moving from feeling to proving. Stories are essential – but without data, they can’t guide strategy.”

Andy spoke candidly about the process, comparing the release of Springpod’s first social impact report to dropping his daughter off for her first day at school. A proud moment – and a slightly nerve-wracking one.

He made it clear that Springpod didn’t set out to adopt an off-the-shelf model. Instead, the team worked to build a framework that would work for their business – conservative by design, but grounded in real feedback and a clear theory of change.

Stories alone aren’t enough. As Andy put it: “What we can't do with that feeling is make really strong decisions – about resource, about budget, about what to do more of or less of.”

The goal is to better understand (and measure) the impact of virtual work experience. And while the team isn’t claiming to have it all figured out, the early results are promising: over £98 million in demonstrated social value, with an open-source methodology that’s designed to evolve over time. Because as Andy closed: “The magic is in the balance – quantifying the value, without losing sight of the people behind it.”

Find out more about Springpod’s open source SROI measurement tool in our latest whitepaper. 

Panel discussion – voices of impact

The centrepiece of the event was our Voices of Impact panel – a powerful conversation exploring what meaningful early careers impact really looks like, and how to deliver it.

Bringing together perspectives from students, corporate responsibility, employer engagement, and education, the panel featured:

Isaac Kamidiora – Student, media broadcasting T Level, and passionate advocate for work experience

Katherine Willis – Corporate Citizenship Senior Manager, Accenture

Jack Speckman – Head of Employer Engagement, Movement to Work

Jo Bishop – Senior Outreach Lead, Springpod

Here’s what we heard.

One of the strongest sentiments was that employers must stop designing programmes for compliance and start designing them for commitment.

Student reflections – honest, brave and unfiltered

At the heart of the event were the student reflections. Many of them spoke openly about the impact of work experience on their confidence, identity, and future outlook.

One student, who had never had formal work experience at school, said:
“My part-time job taught me how to talk to people. Without it, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to speak here today.”

Another reflected on the emotional complexity of building a future:
“Impact, for me, is when I’m pushed to rethink everything I thought I knew. It’s when I feel seen and when I start to see new options for myself.”

These moments made one thing clear: opportunity isn’t one-size-fits-all. When students are given the space to reflect, explore, and grow, they shape opportunity into something that works for them, based on their lived experience, identity and ambition.

What comes next?

We closed the day with pledges. Not policies or programmes - just real, personal commitments. To mentor. To collaborate. To challenge assumptions. To listen better.

Springpod’s own commitment is clear: to deliver £1 billion in SROI over the next five years - and to keep young people at the heart of everything we do.

We’re also:

• Launching theImpact Hub - A space for peers to connect, learn, and access exclusive research and insights.
• Planning future events to bring together stakeholders of the community to drive change.
• Developing a student-led awards programme – A celebration of lived experience, innovation and equity in early careers.

A final thought

Social impact is not a project. It’s a practice. One that demands intentionality, humility, and, most of all, action.

If we want to create meaningful early careers pathways, we must stop asking young people to fit into our frameworks - and start building frameworks around them.

As Chisola reminded us:
“Let’s not just measure impact. Let’s be the impact.”

Want to be part of the next conversation?

• Check out the Impact Hub – A curated space for insights, data, and discussion.
• Explore our social value partnership with GIST Impact – See how we’re measuring what matters.
• Connect with Movement to Work – Collaborate with others committed to helping young people into work.
  
  
  

2 An optional caption for the image that will be added to the gallery. Enter any descriptive text for this image that you would like visitors to be able to read.

3 An optional caption for the image that will be added to the gallery. Enter any descriptive text for this image that you would like visitors to be able to read.

4 An optional caption for the image that will be added to the gallery. Enter any descriptive text for this image that you would like visitors to be able to read.

5 An optional caption for the image that will be added to the gallery. Enter any descriptive text for this image that you would like visitors to be able to read.