At Speakers for Schools we empower
state-educated young people by opening
doors to life-changing opportunities
What is our mission?
We aim to close the opportunity gap and level the playing field for all 11-19-year-olds from state schools and colleges by providing fair access to fully funded work experience and inspirational talks that will help them to reach their full career potential. We are committed to using our influence to champion social mobility and improve diversity in the workplace.
What is our story?
Since our launch in 2010, we have become the largest social mobility charity in the UK. Whether it’s sitting alongside a pilot, working the wards with nurses, or listening to a CEO share their story of success and how they overcame adversity, our high-quality and impactful interventions inspire state-educated young people, bring the world of work to life and transform lives.
What is social mobility?
Social mobility is the term used to describe a shift in socioeconomic status – with greater equality of opportunity generally associated with improved status in terms of earnings, income, social class, health, and education.
Why is equality of opportunity so important?
Higher levels of social mobility are a good indicator of a country’s economic growth and signify a fairer distribution of power, wealth, and opportunity in society. Yet currently, the UK has one of the poorest rates of social mobility in the developed world.
Research shared in 2019 by The Sutton Trust revealed that, despite accounting for just 7% of the pupil population, privately educated people occupy 39% of ‘top jobs’ in this country even though their state-educated peers achieve the same grades
How do we drive change for young people?
We have supported more than 1.6 million young people by partnering with educators, speakers and employers from across the UK.
From inspirational talks to eye-opening work experience, we o er highly effective ways for 11-19-year-olds to engage with leading employers and high-profile leaders, changemakers, and celebrities to expand their networks and develop the necessary confidence, skills, and knowledge to become better prepared for the world of work
2,073
state schools and
colleges registered
1,601
speakers in
our network
354
employer
partners
Discover our fully funded programmes
1
Work
Experience
14-19-year-olds can take part in in-person, virtual, or hybrid placements with leading employers like Virgin, Boots, Bentley Motors, the NHS, and hundreds more to develop their employability skills and knowledge of the world of work.
2
Inspirational
Talks
11-19-year-olds can hear from high-achieving professionals and world-famous names by joining live in-person and online events or watching recorded broadcasts to discover the secrets to career success.
3
National Teen
Book Club
11-19-year-old students can also join our revamped online book clubs in-school or as 14-19-year-old independent learners after-school; getting to enjoy reading, meet inspirational authors and related speakers, grow in confidence, explore potential careers and fuel ambitions.
Influence
Alongside our programmes, we are delivering evidence-based campaigns that influence the highest levels of government and allow us to establish strategic partnerships to drive large-scale change and advance the cause of social mobility in the UK.
Our latest high-impact national campaign – Work Experience for All – seeks to make work experience a universal right, not a privilege. A star-studded lineup that included renowned chef Tom Kerridge, business leader Deborah Meaden, TV presenter Steph McGovern, comedian Guz Khan, and ITV political editor Robert Peston came together in support of the campaign to recount their own work experience stories and how it shaped their successful paths.
Evidence from this campaign has already shaped many of the recommendations included in the Education Select Committee’s latest report on Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance.
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Click through our testimonials
To discover our impact!
Beau, from Birmingham, completed a 3-day work experience placement with Spaceport Cornwall when he was 14 where he came up with the idea for a satellite-controlled app that the local professional fishing community could use to track fish.
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Click through our testimonials
To discover our impact!
Josh, aged 18 from Darlington, completed work experience with British Airways – following his passion for tourism and desire to make it more sustainable in the future.
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Click through our testimonials
To discover our impact!
Joyce, 17, from London, secured virtual work experience placements with Caxton Associates and the Bank of England which allowed her to build much-needed skills as well as boosting her confidence. She now plans to work in finance and feels much better placed to make this happen.
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Click through our testimonials
To discover our impact!
Yen Li, aged 18 from Torquay, completed work experience with Bentley Motors supported by volunteers from Bentley’s colleague diversity networks to provide students from across the country with insights into STEM careers and opportunities within the automotive sector.
