The award-winning Social Mobility Business Partnership runs multiple Work Insight & Skills Experience (WISE) Programmes for students in Year 12/13 (England and Wales), Year 13/14 (Northern Ireland) and S5/S6 (Scotland).
The programme will provide you with the opportunity to spend time with four different high-profile organisations where you will learn about their business, the career routes available to you and develop key skills by getting involved in interactive business-like tasks. Last but not least, you will also spend a day with a professional sports club learning about the psychology of resilience, coping mechanisms and goal achievement models.
SMBP WISE runs for a full week giving you the opportunity to develop key skills employers look for when recruiting, learn from some of our 200+ business partners based across the UK, and boost your confidence and motivation. Watch the videos below to see what you can expect from the week!
Who can apply?
If you live in England or Wales:
Students applying must:
- Be in Year 12 or Year 13; and
- Have attended a state-funded, non fee-paying school/college.
Additionally, we prioritise places for students who:
- 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 | £493 | £25,616 |
| North West England | £595 | £30,960 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £546 | £28,379 |
| East Midlands | £614 | £31,934 |
| West Midlands | £603 | £31,380 |
| East England | £646 | £33,602 |
| London | £720 | £37,419 |
| South East England | £731 | £37,997 |
| South West England | £646 | £33,608 |
| Wales | £542 | £28,160 |
*** 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)
If you live in Scotland:
Students applying must:
- Be in S5 or S6; and
- Have attended a state-funded, non fee-paying school/college.
Additionally, we prioritise places for students who:
- 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 | £557 | £28,970 |
*** 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)
If you live in Northern Ireland:
Students applying must:
- Be in Year 13 or Year 14; and
- Have attended a state-funded, non fee-paying school/college.
Additionally, we prioritise places for students who:
- 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 | £558 | £29,031 |
*** 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)
Which partners could I visit during my WISE week?
Click here to see an example of partners that students could visit in 2024. Please note: partners are subject to change.
When do the programmes take place?
Our programmes take place at the following locations on the dates specified. Please note if you do not live within a commutable distance from one of our locations or are not available to attend you can apply to our National Online Week which is hosted live online by a different business partner each day.
Please note that applications for our SMBP WISE 2024 have now closed. Please register your interest for 2025 at the bottom of this page.
Dates (2024) |
Programme Location |
| 14th – 18th Oct | Glasgow |
| 28th Oct – 1st Nov | Exeter
Plymouth St Austell & Truro |
| 2025 | National Online Week
Belfast Birmingham Bradford Brighton Bristol Cambridge Cardiff & Newport East Midlands – Derby Leeds London North East England† North West England* Norwich Portsmouth Reading Rugby & Coventry Wrexham |
†Days delivered in Newcastle area
*Days delivered in Manchester area
Important Information for Students
- Attendance on all five days is compulsory.
- Travel arrangements for students to attend will be arranged and paid for by SMBP in advance. Please note if you do not live within a commutable distance from one of our locations or are not available to attend, you can apply to our National Online Week which is hosted live online by a different business partner each day.
- Lunch will be provided for students on each day (excluding days that are hosted online).
