Join us in our charityās mission to empower young people
As the UKās leading social mobility charity, weāre on a mission to help state-educated students nationwide to reach their potential by providing work experience placements and inspirational talks.
If youād like to learn more ā discover what we do and how we can help you below, explore our fully funded programmes or get in touch.
What do we do and how can we help you?
Ready to empower your āØstudents to reach their potential?Ā
Right now over half of state-educated students in schools and colleges like yours leave with no work experience. Together we can change that statistic.
Our charityās fully funded programmes for 11-19-year-olds ā which come at no cost to you, your students, or their parents/carers ā open doors to in-person, virtual and hybrid work experience with world-class employers and in-school or online inspirational talks with high-profile speakers. Plus our dedicated education team will support you with expert placement planning and safeguarding advice too.
Ready to tap into our pool ofāÆ āØyoung talent and boost social mobility?Ā
Providing work experience is not just a matter of goodwill; itās a strategic move to gain a competitive edge in the race for early talent acquisition ā whilst showcasing careers, closing skills gaps and boosting your social impact.Ā Ā
Our charityās programme gives you access to 14-19-year-olds from over 2,000 state schools and colleges across the country. Plus weāll support you at every step of the āØway; offering expert guidance on delivering high-quality in-person, virtual or hybrid placements, step-by-step planning and safeguarding advice too.
Ready to find answers āØabout your future career?Ā
We know itās not easy to imagine what you could be in the future and harder still to get the chances you deserve. Our UK-wide charity works with state schools and colleges like yours, helping you to reach your potential by opening doors to opportunities with world-class employers and life-changing speakers.Ā
Take our Career Personality Quiz ā a quick, fun way to find out which types of careers are most likely to suit you and to get tailored updates on work experience and inspirational āØtalks ā or visit our young person page to learn more.Ā
What fully funded programmes do we offer?
Work
Experience
We partner with leading employers ā offering programme expertise, planning and safeguarding advice ā to provide 14-19-year-old students with high-quality in-person work placements, virtual work experience, or hybrid placements from anywhere in the UK.
Inspirational
Talks
We partner with high-profile motivational speakers to uncover their secrets to success and fuel career ambitions for 11-19-year-old students ā with options to attend in-person talks in a school or college, join live broadcasts online or watch recorded talks on our library.
National Teen
Book Club
We partner with publishers, authors and related speakers to offer online book clubs that provide reading opportunities, inspiration and career insights to 11-19-year-old students in-school, and 14-19-year-old independent learners after-school too.
Whatās our social mobility mission?
Whilst talent is spread evenly across the country, opportunity sadly isnāt.
Thatās why our dedicated teams of experts partner with educators, employers and young people, as well as speakers, national bodies, funders and policy makers; to increase the richness of education for state-educated students, level the playing field with the best fee-paying schools, improve diversity in the workplace and secure better outcomes for all.
Since 2010, we have supported 1.6 million young people UK-wide ā by providing fair access to our fully funded programmes and using evidence-led research and campaigns to influence policy and practices.
You can learn more about us here or explore how you can support our mission here
Why choose Speakers for Schools?
1
We have dedicated industry experts in education, business practices and policy
Our teams bring together the knowledge and expertise that makes high-quality and āØhigh-impact work experience and highly inspirational talks possible. As the UKās leading social mobility charity, we are here to support you and guide you every step of the way.
2
We have a vast network of nationwide schools, world-class employers and speakers
2,073 schools and colleges. āØ354 employers. 1,600 speakers. Through our partners we can create connections and provide access to a diverse range of institutions, businesses and individuals who make life-changing experiences possible for young people across the country.
3
We are a charity who you can help in our mission to improve social mobility
Together we can ALL make a transformational difference to the lives of young people from state schools and colleges by opening doors to opportunities ā that would otherwise remain closed. But we can only do it with the valued partnerships, engagement and support of people like you.
Hear from young people for insight on our impact
Impacting the lives of young people is the reason we exist. In 2022/23 we supported 62,792 14-19-year-olds to experience the workplace and 92,215 to attend inspirational talks. With 70% of 14-16-year-olds having never joined a placement before and 94% of educators saying our Experience programme left their students feeling better informed on careers.
Listen to Joyce ā 17, from London, and a member of last yearsā Youth Council ā as she shares her story.
Read our latest Impact Report here, or visit our Policy & Research page here
Why do our partners and young people trust our programmes?
Weāve partnered with Speakers for Schools to access inspiring talks and insightful work experience, a vital part of lifelong learning. By offering opportunities for in-person, hybrid, and virtual experiences weāve removed the barriers that exist for many!
Alexander McCafferty
Careers Leader, Djanogly City Academy
āWe have worked together to design a yearlong programme of aviation learning. 25,000 hours of inspiring talks, interactive activities, and mentoring, both online and in-person.ā
Laura Macshane
Manager, DEI & Community Virgin Atlantic
āIn June 2021, I started the first day of my virtual work experience with FinTrUā¦ Fast forward to June 2023, and I took part in the same work experience programme, however, this time as an employee at FinTrU. ā
Lara
Belfast
View our latest news
Read more about our activity and how we are impacting the next generation.
- Launching the Social Mobility Directory: Connecting employers with a mission to drive changeĀ Launching the Social Mobility Directory: Connecting employers with a mission to drive change Social mobility remains a cornerstone of a fairā¦ Read more: Launching the Social Mobility Directory: Connecting employers with a mission to drive changeĀ
- Our response to The Key Groupās report on young peopleās access to work experienceExplore our response to research from school support organisation, The Key Group, on access to work experience amongst 14 and 15-year-olds,ā¦ Read more: Our response to The Key Groupās report on young peopleās access to work experience
- Assumed Knowledge: A Hidden Barrier to Social MobilityFirst-of-its-kind research exposes glaring inequalities in young peopleās access to knowledge of the education system and careers, threatening equal opportunity forā¦ Read more: Assumed Knowledge: A Hidden Barrier to Social Mobility
- Our response to the Youth Voice Census 2024A closer look at the āYouth Voice Census 2024āĀ The āYouth Voice Census 2024ā has just been released by Youth Employmentā¦ Read more: Our response to the Youth Voice Census 2024
- The Sutton Trustās Life Lessons 2024 report – How are young people developing the skills for successThe Sutton Trustās Life Lessons 2024 report – How are young people developing the skills for success While academic and subject-specificā¦ Read more: The Sutton Trustās Life Lessons 2024 report – How are young people developing the skills for success
- New Partnership Between Speakers for Schools and The Hg Foundation to Boost Diversity in the UK Tech SectorNew Partnership Aims to Transform the UK Tech Sector by Boosting Diversity and Social Mobility Speakers for Schools partners with Theā¦ Read more: New Partnership Between Speakers for Schools and The Hg Foundation to Boost Diversity in the UK Tech Sector
- Reflections on the Social Mobility Commissionās āState of the Nationā Annual Report 2024Reflections on the Social Mobility Commissionās āState of the Nationā Annual Report 2024 The Social Mobility Commissionās āState of the Nationāā¦ Read more: Reflections on the Social Mobility Commissionās āState of the Nationā Annual Report 2024
- Speakers for Schools Response toĀ The King’s SpeechĀ 17 July 2024Speakers for Schools Response toĀ The King’s SpeechĀ 17 July 2024 āMy Ministers will seek to raise educational standards and break down barriersā¦ Read more: Speakers for Schools Response toĀ The King’s SpeechĀ 17 July 2024
- Speakers for Schools Investigate The Future of Education,General Election Spotlight: How does each party envision the future of education? Surveying the political landscape Education has fallen to an all-time lowā¦ Read more: Speakers for Schools Investigate The Future of Education,
- How does work experience work in Northern Ireland?Ā Ā How does work experience work in Northern Ireland? With the restoration of devolved government to Northern Ireland in February 2024, whatā¦ Read more: How does work experience work in Northern Ireland?Ā Ā
- Our new partnership with the Sir James Knott TrustĀ Ā We are delighted to share that we have successfully secured Ā£5000 of funding from the Sir James Knott Trust in their most recent round of awards.Ā In the past year, the Sir James Knott Trust haveāÆcontributed more than Ā£2.3m to hundreds of local community groups and charitable organisations to help improve the quality of life for those most in need across key communities in this part of the country.
- Developing young people as a wholeĀ Developing young people as a whole Is our obsession with attainment leaving them behind? The importance of socio-emotional skills Here atā¦ Read more: Developing young people as a wholeĀ
- Universal Work Experience Gains Public Support In New ReportĀ Universal Work Experience Gains Public Support In New ReportĀ The recent report by the Edge Foundation provides insight into the appetiteā¦ Read more: Universal Work Experience Gains Public Support In New ReportĀ
- Meet our new Youth CouncilMeet our new Youth Council Welcome from Callum and Zephaniah Making change for young people is important. But to succeed, youngā¦ Read more: Meet our new Youth Council
- New report outlines double disadvantage barring fair access to top universitiesDouble Disadvantage: How Lack of Work Experience Limits State School Students’ Access to Top UK Universities The attainment gap between youngā¦ Read more: New report outlines double disadvantage barring fair access to top universities
- Enhancing youth skills for future employmentEmpowering Youth for Future Careers: Insights from Portsmouth Roundtable on Education, Skills, and Social Mobility Last week, we held an inspiringā¦ Read more: Enhancing youth skills for future employment
- The Power of ChoiceThe Power of Choice Choice is a brilliant thing. But it can also be overwhelming. The young people we work withā¦ Read more: The Power of Choice
- Building Careers into a multi-academy trust FrameworkBuilding Careers into a Multi-Academy Trust Framework Ormiston Academies Trust run 42 academies, including 32 secondaries, six primaries, three Alternative Provisionā¦ Read more: Building Careers into a multi-academy trust Framework
- Why it is essential to help students ābelongā to their school communityWhy it is essential to help students ābelongā to their school community As all of us across the education sector areā¦ Read more: Why it is essential to help students ābelongā to their school community
- Revolutionising the Labour Market: Unleashing productivity by putting skills first.Revolutionising the Labour Market: Unleashing productivity by putting skills first. In the ever-evolving landscape of industries, accessing and retaining talent hasā¦ Read more: Revolutionising the Labour Market: Unleashing productivity by putting skills first.
- Charitable Trust awards grant for summer work experience for schools and colleges in Chester and Ellesmere PortCharitable Trust awards grant for summer work experience for schools and colleges in Chester and Ellesmere Port Young people attending stateā¦ Read more: Charitable Trust awards grant for summer work experience for schools and colleges in Chester and Ellesmere Port
- The intersection between regional barriers and digital skills divides for young peopleThe intersection between regional barriers and digital skills divides for young people The opportunity to thrive for our young people āā¦ Read more: The intersection between regional barriers and digital skills divides for young people
- Why virtual work experience is still important in a post-pandemic educational worldWhy virtual work experience is still important in a post-pandemic educational world The etiquettes, cultures and practices of the working worldā¦ Read more: Why virtual work experience is still important in a post-pandemic educational world
- Enhancing Careers Education: A Call to Embed Work Experience in Secondary CurriculumEnhancing Careers Education: A Call to Embed Work Experience in Secondary Curriculum TheāÆUK House of LordsāÆEducation for 11-16 Year Olds Committeeā¦ Read more: Enhancing Careers Education: A Call to Embed Work Experience in Secondary Curriculum