In collaboration with UCAS, innovative careers platform Springpod is excited to launch new virtual work experience courses. The free courses are open to school, sixth form/college and university students nationwide, offering work experience with organisations including the Met Office, Barclays, Vodafone and the UK Parliament. Designed to spark interest in diverse careers and build confidence in young people; these programmes provide every student with access to meaningful work experience, develop essential skills and provide the evidence needed to impress employers and universities.
UCAS's Project Next Generation report, published earlier this year, explored the decision-making processes of 13 to 17-year-olds, and emphasised the growing importance of career experience and exposure. The report highlighted that while 97% of young people believe direct work experience is crucial for securing a place at university, an apprenticeship, or a job, only 39% actually gain such experience. Additionally, 46% of young people are now considering careers related to the subjects they enjoy.
Springpod addresses this gap by providing accessible, engaging and interactive opportunities for young people to explore various careers and university courses from the comfort of their homes. These “try before you apply” programmes provide immersive and absorbing experiences, such as live surgeries, interactive business challenges, expert webinars and behind-the-scenes access to major industries such as law, engineering and publishing. Each programme is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of different career paths while building valuable, employer-recognised hard and soft skills.
Springpod’s virtual work experience programmes have been explored by more than 620,000 young people across the UK, in partnership with a complete range of employers - from the NHS and Amazon, to Airbus, Jaguar Land Rover and loads more. After completing a Springpod programme, students’ rating their confidence about finding a job in the future as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ rises from 50% to 90% and their awareness of careers within their chosen industry from 47% to 99%.
Dave Penney, Chief Marketing Officer at UCAS, said: “At UCAS, we know students are mapping out their futures earlier than ever, and we’re thrilled to now offer Springpod’s virtual work experiences to all students with a UCAS Hub account. Importantly, this will help students determine their career interests and aspirations as early as possible.
“This virtual, anywhere, anytime learning experience ensures that no student is left behind, providing equal opportunities to work experience for all. We know that many students struggle to access work experience opportunities due to networks, location, supply, demand or current means and our collaboration with Springpod will be fundamental in further supporting students in making informed decisions about their future.”
Programme participants can earn certificates to bolster their Personal Statements, CVs, and applications, demonstrating their commitment and proactive approach to their future careers. These virtual work experiences will also benefit teachers and careers advisers supporting students, too. They are designed to help educators meet Gatsby Benchmark 6 by providing students with important insights into the workplace, and the opportunity to understand and explore various career paths within both popular and less common industries.
Sam Hyams, CEO of Springpod, added:
“At Springpod, we are thrilled to partner with UCAS to bring our virtual work experience programmes to every student on the UCAS Hub. This collaboration marks a significant step in our mission to bridge the gap between education and employment, providing students with invaluable opportunities to gain experience and insights into their future careers. Our programmes are designed to be accessible and impactful, empowering students to explore their passions and build the skills they need to succeed in an ever-evolving job market.”
About Springpod:
Springpod is the careers platform where employers and educators engage with young people as they plan their futures. We connect young people to life-changing work and university-based experiences with the world’s leading brands. Springpod works with organisations including the Department for Education, universities and global brands such as Amazon to bridge the gap between education and careers. We aim to enable every young person to experience a university course or career before they apply. 24% of Springpod users receive free school meals and 49% come from minority ethnic backgrounds.
springpod.com
Contact Details:
Springpod
hello@springpod.com
020 3637 8665
To discover Virtual Work Experience on UCAS, click here.
UCAS Press Office
07880 488 795
communications@ucas.ac.uk (monitored regularly)
@ucas_corporate
About UCAS
UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is an independent charity, and the UK's shared admissions service for higher education.
UCAS’ services support young people making post-18 choices, as well as mature learners, by providing information, advice, and guidance to inspire and facilitate educational progression to university, college, or an apprenticeship.
UCAS manages almost three million applications, from around 700,000 people each year, for full-time undergraduate courses at over 380 universities and colleges across the UK.
UCAS is committed to delivering a first-class service to all our beneficiaries — they're at the heart of everything we do.