What is the National Online Week?

SMBP’s National Online Week is a Work Insight & Skills Experience perfect for students who prefer the flexibility of virtual, or who may not be able to attend an in-person week. With bespoke live webinars taking place 26th – 29th October 2026 hosted by high-profile organisations, plus a final day working through our in-app Resilience modules, you can take part in discussions, learn about the career opportunities available to you, participate in business-like tasks, and develop your key competency skills, all from the comfort of your home!

How does an online programme work?

Across the week, you will attend a live interactive webinar 4pm – 6pm each day, with the final day focussing on developing your resilience and goal planning skills through our bespoke Resilience Modules in your SMBP App.

You will take part in sessions with high-profile businesses who will hold interactive talks, Q&As, team working activities, and career sessions to help develop your key competency skills. In 2025, students attended sessions hosted by Soho House, CMS, Rolls-Royce, Squire Patton Boggs, and Amazon, just to name a few!

What did other students think?

Megan

“I got to meet and engage with a wide range of professionals, something I wouldn’t have been able to do anywhere else."

Brighain

“I enjoyed the negotiations session with Simply Business the most this week. I thought it was really good, thank you!"

Pearls

“It was nice to get a mixture of businesses to learn from, and having that opportunity to ask questions."

"This week has given me a lot of hope to feel qualified to go to university and pursue a career"

What are the benefits?

As the National Online week takes place virtually, you have the flexibility of joining from home, your local library, or anywhere else with a quiet space. Our Online programme is perfect for students who may live in an area where SMBP doesn’t currently host an in-person week, are unavailable at the time of an in-person programme, or have other commitments that mean an online programme may be preferable.

Sessions will take place via Microsoft Teams, therefore those wanting to participate should ensure they have a stable internet connection and compatible device to join from (laptop, tablet, smartphone, or computer).

Eligibility & Important Information

  • Attendance on all five days is compulsory.
  • Participants will require a stable internet connection and access to Microsoft Teams from a laptop, computer, tablet, or mobile device to take part.
  • Participants and quiet place they can join live webinar sessions 4pm – 6pm Monday to Thursday.

Eligibility if you live in England or Wales

Students applying must: 

  1. Be in Year 12 or Year 13; and 
  2. Have attended a state-funded, non fee-paying school/college. 

Additionally, students must meet one of the following criteria: 

  • Are first generation* to attend university in their family; or 
  • Have been eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years; or 
  • Are from a low-income household*, or  
  • Have spent a period in care*** 

*You count as being first generation to go University even if the following people have gone to university: your foster parents, your care workers, your brother or sister, your biological parents (if you are adopted), a parents with whom you have had no contact during your secondary and post-16 education. You are not considered first generation to go University if your parents have obtained a degree outside the UK.   

** Your family’s household income is the same as or less than the amount stated in the table:

Region  Average Weekly Household Expenditure  Average Yearly Household Expenditure 
North East England  £483.14 £25,123.18
North West England  £558.38 £29,035.89
Yorkshire and the Humber  £552.38 £28,723.73
East Midlands  £559.52 £29,095.09
West Midlands  £564.39 £29,348.05
East England  £625.97 £32,550.34
London  £646.56 £33,621.35
South East England  £685.17 £35,628.84
South West England  £640.46 £33,303.82
Wales  £553.00 £28,756.03

*** You have spent time living with foster carers under local authority care, or in residential care (eg. a children’s home), or looked after at home but under a supervision order from your local authority)  

Eligibility if you live in Scotland

Students applying must: 

  1. Be in S5 or S6; and 
  2. Have attended a state-funded, non fee-paying school/college. 

Additionally, students must meet one of the following criteria: 

  • Are first generation* to attend university in their family; or 
  • Have been eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years; or 
  • Are from a low-income household*, or  
  • Have spent a period in care*** 

*You count as being first generation to go University even if the following people have gone to university: your foster parents, your care workers, your brother or sister, your biological parents (if you are adopted), a parents with whom you have had no contact during your secondary and post-16 education. You are not considered first generation to go University if your parents have obtained a degree outside the UK.  

** Your family’s household income is the same as or less than the amount stated in the table:

Region  Average Weekly Household Expenditure  Average Yearly Household Expenditure 
Scotland  £516.78 £26,872.33

*** You have spent time living with foster carers under local authority care, or in residential care (eg. a children’s home), or looked after at home but under a supervision order from your local authority)  

Eligibility if you live in Northern Ireland

Students applying must: 

  1. Be in Year 13 or Year 14; and 
  2. Have attended a state-funded, non fee-paying school/college.

Additionally, students must meet one of the following criteria: 

  • Are first generation* to attend university in their family; or 
  • Have been eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years; or 
  • Are from a low-income household*, or  
  • Have spent a period in care*** 

*You count as being first generation to go University even if the following people have gone to university: your foster parents, your care workers, your brother or sister, your biological parents (if you are adopted), a parents with whom you have had no contact during your secondary and post-16 education. You are not considered first generation to go University if your parents have obtained a degree outside the UK.  

** Your family’s household income is the same as or less than the amount stated in the table:

Region  Average Weekly Household Expenditure  Average Yearly Household Expenditure 
Northern Ireland  £569.46 £29,611.76

*** You have spent time living with foster carers under local authority care, or in residential care (eg. a children’s home), or looked after at home but under a supervision order from your local authority)  

How can I apply?

Applications for our 2026 National Online WISE Week are open from Monday 11th February. You can submit your application by clicking the button below.

Applications will remain open until Monday 31st August, however, please be aware that applications are allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis and may close early if we reach capacity.

 

Applications ProcessClick for more info

 

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