Year 10 Work Experience… Reimagined

A bold new approach to tech work experience is being piloted in Somerset, aiming to make Year 10 placements more engaging, impactful, and accessible to all students—regardless of their background.

This collaboration—between the social mobility charity Speakers for Schools, the South-West-based digital training provider Evo Academy, and the Hg Foundation—is set to reimagine what work experience can and should look like for young people.

Rethinking Work Experience

Nearly half of young people currently leave school having had no experience of the world of work. Many of those that do, can find themselves stuck in placements that offer little real-world value. Worse still, many secure placements through family connections, making it significantly harder for disadvantaged young people to access high-quality opportunities.

But what if that wasn’t the case? What if Year 10 work experience was truly inspiring and fair for all?

Introducing ‘Centralised Work Experience’

Speakers for Schools, Evo Academy and Hg Foundation are set to pilot a new model within the tech industry in Somerset. The initiative, called Centralised Work Experience, has the potential to deliver greater impact at a lower cost while putting social mobility at its core.

How It Works

Instead of the traditional model—where 1-2 students shadow an employer for a week—this new approach brings 30 students together in a dynamic, immersive work simulation designed to excite and engage young people about careers in tech.

• Hands-on, project-based learning that mirrors real-world challenges

• A bespoke curriculum designed to develop both technical and soft skills

• A meaningful experience that students can proudly showcase on their CVs and in interviews

• Career-shaping insights into work

  
  

A Step Towards Nationwide Change

By trialling this approach, Speakers for Schools, Evo Academy, and The Hg Foundation aim to inform the future of in-person work experience across the UK. With a focus on both cost-effectiveness and social mobility, this model will support a new benchmark for how in-person multi-day work experience can offer every student—regardless of their background—a meaningful opportunity to explore exciting career paths in a rapidly changing world. 

Join the Movement

We invite educators, businesses, and digital professionals to support this initiative and get involved. If you’re passionate about the future of digital education, let’s connect and explore ways to collaborate.

Follow our journey as we share stories, insights, and student success from this revolutionary pilot program.

“At Speakers for Schools, our mission is to level the playing field and ensure that all young people regardless of their background have access to high-quality, industry-led work experiences. The partnership with Evo Academy is a significant step forward in creating meaningful opportunities for young people in Somerset, equipping them with the digital skills and entrepreneurial mindset they need for the future.”

Nick Brook, CEO of Speakers for Schools

“Evo Academy has been dedicated to inspiring and equipping young people with the skills they need to thrive in the digital economy. Being chosen to design and facilitate this pilot program in Somerset is an incredible honour and a testament to the work we’ve been doing over the past few years. We believe that by immersing students in real-world digital challenges, we can unlock new career pathways and inspire the next generation of innovators.”

James Shakespeare, Founder of Evo Academy

“At The Hg Foundation, our vision is that the tech workforce of the future harnesses the talents of all, regardless of background. This initiative builds on research we supported last year at The South West Social Mobility Commission to find innovative ways to widen opportunities in the tech sector. By providing immersive, hands-on experiences to young people in a scalable way, we hope the project will help ensure the future of tech is as diverse, vibrant, and inclusive as the world it serves.”

James Turner, CEO of The Hg Foundation

“This program is a perfect example of how we can redefine work experience—giving young people real, hands-on exposure to digital careers while bridging the gap between education and industry. Growing up in the South-West, I’ve seen firsthand how access to meaningful opportunities can shape a young person’s future and this program could do just that for so many young people”

Henry Jones, Project Lead

Acknowledgements

This pilot project builds upon the pioneering research conducted by The South West Social Mobility Commission, supported by The Hg Foundation. The initiative draws from a report authored by Henry Jones, Dr. Anne-Marie Sim, and Professor Lee Elliot-Major, which explored pathways into tech careers for disadvantaged young people in the South West.