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This April, we have launched Beyond Horizons, our new pilot programme in Bradford which aims to reimagine what meaningful work experience can look like for young people.
For many young people, work experience is one of the first direct encounters they have with the working world. But too often, those experiences are limited - shaped by access, opportunity or narrow perceptions of what jobs look like and who they’re for.
Beyond Horizons is designed to address this. Rather than focusing solely on a single placement or destination, the programme supports young people to:
- Explore their strengths, interests and motivations
Challenge assumptions and stereotypes about jobs
Build confidence ahead of future work experience opportunities
The programme also connects to our wider work at The EY Foundation to explore what helps young people develop agency, intrinsic motivation and confidence when thinking about their futures - particularly for those who may not see themselves represented in traditional career pathways.
Early reflections from our pilot
I learned that there can be more than one path into a job.
Our first delivery with Year 8 students at St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic College has already offered valuable insight into how young people respond to this kind of approach.
Across the sessions, pupils reflected on the value of being given time to think, talk and test ideas about the future, without feeling pressure to have all the answers mapped out. For many, a reassuring message was learning that there is more than one route into a job or career, and that it’s normal not to know exactly what comes next.
Sessions focused on strengths encouraged pupils to notice skills they already use, from teamwork and communication to creativity and resilience, and start to connect these to working life.
Challenging stereotypes also played a key role. Pupils spoke about how their views of certain roles had shifted, particularly around who jobs are for and what skills really matter.
Beyond Horizons participants said:
It helped me understand how my strengths might help my future jobs.
I feel more prepared for work experience opportunities in the future.
It helped me open my mind to different perspectives.
What we're learning so far
As part of the pilot learnings, we expect to make changes as we continue testing the programme across Bradford, taking on feedback and making the adaptations required. These first sessions have reinforced the importance of:
- Creating space for reflection and discussion, not just information
- Using role models, real stories and examples to show multiple pathways
- Supporting confidence and preparation before employer encounters
What's next?
Over the coming months, we’ll continue to:
- Deliver Beyond Horizons with more schools across the Bradford district
- Deepen employer involvement across different sectors, including SMEs
- Use pupil, educator and employer feedback to refine activities
- Feed learning from the pilot into our wider research and programme design
We will share what we learn, what works and what needs to change, as we continue to rethink how modern work experience can better support young people’s futures.
Get involved!
If you’re a school, employer or partner interested in learning more about Beyond Horizons or our wider work on work experience, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch with Dulcie Hayden from The EY Foundation Programmes team at dulcie.hayden@eyfoundation.ey.com