A recent survey conducted by work experience provider Uptree has revealed a lack of confidence that prevented 36% of student respondents from taking part in workplace-based experiences.
This finding is consistent with the company’s 2022 survey where students indicated confidence issues with professional networking and job applications.
The research was conducted in partnership with the Bridge Group, a non-profit consultancy that utilises research to promote social equality, to better understand young people’s perspectives on experiences of work.
Of the 2023 survey respondents who took part in workplace-based experiences, 80% felt they had gained experience and information that they could not have got from friends, family, school or elsewhere. In addition, 80% agreed or strongly agreed that work experience had informed their post-school options.
Experiences of workplaces make up one of the eight Gatsby Benchmarks, a framework created to support the development of careers provisions in schools and colleges.
The survey results indicate a discrepancy between the recommended careers support and the challenges faced by the younger generation during their transition from education to employment.
Founder CEO Tamsin Dewhurst said:
“Experiences of work are fundamental in helping young people to make informed career choices and develop essential skills, and it’s our mission at Uptree to drive accessible experiences for all young people. What our research shows is that young people can find it a struggle to navigate the professional world and we see first-hand their uncertainty. With the growing skills gap in the UK, we encourage employers to educate this younger generation on careers to upskill and equip future talent pipelines. We’re proud to work with a number of employers who help to build students’ confidence and careers knowledge through online courses and networking at our termly multi-industry careers event.”
The full findings of the survey can be found in Uptree’s report.
