The award-winning Social Mobility Business Partnership is running multiple Work Insight & Skills Experiences 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.
Our Work Insight & Skills Experiences run for a full week giving you the opportunity to develop key skills employers look for when recruiting, learn from some of our 170+ business partners based across the UK and boost your confidence and motivation. Watch the video below to see what you can expect from the week!
Which partners could I be spending my Work Insight Experience with?
Click here to see which partners participated in each cluster in 2022. Please note: partners may change each year and may not represent who will be taking part in 2023/2024.
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.
Dates |
Programme Location |
| Summer 2024 (Date TBC) |
Cambridge (Creative Industry Focus) |
| 24th – 28th June 2024 | Belfast
Londonderry |
| 15th – 19th July 2024 | North East England† |
| 22nd – 26th July 2024 | Birmingham
Bradford Brighton Bristol Cardiff (Public Sector Focus) Coventry Dorset Exeter Glasgow Leeds North West England Norwich Reading Rugby & Coventry Wrexham |
| 8th – 12th July 2024 | National Online Week (all of UK) |
| 29th July – 2nd Aug 2024 | London |
†Days delivered in Newcastle 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).
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.
We prioritise places to students who:
- Have an average GCSE score of 5.5 or above; and
- 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.**
*First generation means that neither of your parents have been to university and got a degree. You count as being first generation to go to 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’re adopted), or a parent with whom you’ve had no contact during your secondary and post- 16 education.
**a low-income household is defined as such if the total household income is less than the areas average household expenditure. The table below details the average household expenditure by area:
| Region | Average Weekly Household Expenditure | Average Yearly Household Expenditure |
| North East England | £544 | £28,300 |
| North West England | £578 | £30,040 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £578 | £30,035 |
| East Midlands | £618 | £32,138 |
| West Midlands | £572 | £29,768 |
| East England | £662 | £34,444 |
| London | £766 | £39,852 |
| South East England | £761 | £39,597 |
| South West England | £672 | £34,949 |
| Wales | £559 | £29,077 |
If you live in Scotland:
Students applying must:
- Be in S5 or S6; and
- Have attended a state-funded, non fee-paying school/college.
We prioritise places to students who:
- Have achieved, or be on course to achieve a minimum of BBB by end of S5, including English and Mathematics; and
- 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**
*First generation means that neither of your parents have been to university and got a degree. You count as being first generation to go to 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’re adopted), or a parent with whom you’ve had no contact during your secondary and post- 16 education.
**a low-income household is defined as such if the total household income is less than the areas average household expenditure. The table below details the average household expenditure by area:
| Region | Average Weekly Household Expenditure | Average Yearly Household Expenditure |
| Scotland | £559 | £29,043 |
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.
We prioritise places to students who:
- Have 5 GCSEs grades A-C including English and Mathematics; and
- 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**
*First generation means that neither of your parents have been to university and got a degree. You count as being first generation to go to 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’re adopted), or a parent with whom you’ve had no contact during your secondary and post- 16 education.
**a low-income household is defined as such if the total household income is less than the areas average household expenditure. The table below details the average household expenditure by area:
| Region | Average Weekly Household Expenditure | Average Yearly Household Expenditure |
| Northern Ireland | £530 | £27,569 |
How do I apply?
Applications for our 2023 programmes are now closed. Click the button below to register your interest for our 2024 Programme.
