The EY Foundation is a charitable company registered in England and Wales and Scotland with registered charity number 1157154 and SC045076. It is also a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited
Recent Searches
Career optimism in Bradford Year 8 pupils on Free School Meals almost doubled after taking part in an early work experience pilot, according to a new EY Foundation report published today (22 September).
The findings reveal that Year 8 pupils eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) became significantly more positive about their futures after taking part in ‘Beyond Horizons’, an innovative EY Foundation pilot delivered across four schools in Bradford.
More than 100 pupils aged 12 and 13 took part in the pilot between April and June 2026. The pilot was designed to explore whether having access to workplace experiences at a younger age could help pupils from low-income backgrounds build confidence, broaden their horizons and better understand local career opportunities.
The findings show that compared to before the programme, pupils who participated:
reported substantially greater optimism about their futures, with positive or hopeful feelings about future careers increasing from 48% to 85%
developed a stronger awareness of local opportunities, with awareness of businesses and employers in Bradford and West Yorkshire increasing from 31% to 81%
demonstrated greater self-awareness, with recognition of strengths and areas for development increasing from 38% to 75%
This comes as the number of young people in the UK not in education, employment or training (NEET) is hovering around one million. Young people eligible for Free School Meals are twice as likely to become NEET, further strengthening the case for earlier intervention.
The publication of the findings also aligns with updated statutory careers guidance which states that from September 2026 schools should be reforming their work experience programmes to provide two weeks’ worth of work experience between Year 7 and Year 11. As access expands, Beyond Horizons offers valuable insight into how these opportunities can be delivered effectively for pupils from low-income backgrounds.
To help support schools and employers to deliver high-quality work experience sustainably and equitably, the report identifies five emerging insights for policymakers, schools and employers, including the importance of providing work experience earlier, strengthening schools' capacity to deliver high-quality work experience, and building stronger local partnerships between education and employers.
Going forward, Beyond Horizons will continue into 2026/27, testing approaches to reach more young people and exploring how schools, employers and local partners can come together to share responsibility for delivering meaningful workplace experiences while maintaining quality and impact. This will generate further evidence of the support needed to make meaningful workplace experiences both equitable and sustainable at scale.
Commenting on the findings:
Beyond Horizons shows the potential of engaging young people with the world of work earlier, helping them build confidence and a clearer understanding of their future pathways. This is particularly important for young people from low-income backgrounds, who can sometimes face additional barriers to developing the skills, experiences and networks that support successful transitions into work. As work experience expands nationally, we need to make sure the focus is not only on giving more young people access, but on ensuring those who face the greatest barriers benefit from high-quality experiences that open up opportunities for their future.
I didn’t have any formal work experience until I was 16, and young people from low-income backgrounds don’t always have access to professional networks that can help them learn about the range of careers available and the ways to enter them. Giving young people meaningful work experience earlier can expose them to different careers at a time when they’re making important decisions about their future. It can also give them real-world experience, build their confidence, and help raise their aspirations for what they can achieve.
Beyond Horizons is giving young people earlier exposure to employers and different career pathways which is vital to help build their confidence and aspirations. This closely aligns with the West Yorkshire Promise - my commitment to ensure young people have the skills, support, and opportunities they need to move into further learning, training, and work. Working with the EY Foundation also provides an important example of how local partnerships can translate these ambitions into practice, bringing schools and employers together to deliver high-quality work experience.
Beyond Horizons is a great example of how schools, employers, Careers Hubs and local partners can work together to give young people meaningful experiences of the workplace earlier in their education. It has been developed in line with equalex, our national framework for high-quality, progressive experiences of the workplace, helping young people build the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to take their best next step. The learning from pilots like Beyond Horizons is important as we move towards a more modern approach to work experience – one that starts earlier, offers multiple experiences and works for young people, schools, and employers.
Notes for Editors:
The EY Foundation is a UK registered charity that works directly with young people and employers to create or support pathways to education, employment or enterprise. The EY Foundation operates and is incorporated independently of EY and is governed by a separate trustee board.
Media contacts:
Emma Dixon Lim, Communications Manager, EY Foundation
emma.dixon.lim@eyfoundation.ey.com
Vi Pham, Communications Officer, EY Foundation
vi.pham@eyfoundation.ey.com
Information about getting involved in Beyond Horizons:
Schools, employers and local partners interested learning more about the programme or taking part in 2026/27 can contact Dulcie Hayden, Bradford Programme Manager at the
EY Foundation: Dulcie.Hayden@eyfoundation.ey.com