In August, our latest cohort of young people got the opportunity to explore a range of career paths during a week of work experience at the London Stock Exchange (LSEG) in partnership with Urban Synergy.
Over the course of the week, the group, ranging from 16 to 20, took part in a wide range of activities geared towards preparing them for the world of work, giving some of them their first experience of the workplace.
From mock interviews to insights into the stock market, the group embarked on a whirlwind tour of the financial sector. During the week the group were also given a CV writing workshop, learning the dos and don'ts of putting together a CV. Participants were given talks by LSEG employees who shared insight into the various roles within the organisation.
What the young people thought about the work experience
Rickael Clark, 16, student said: “The work experience has helped me to understand more about the field of finance and a bit more about how the stock market works, as well as the different processes which help it work.”
Rickael added: “I would like to thank the staff who organised the event because it was very well put together.”
The importance of work experience in reducing risk of NEET
Work experience remains one of the most cited gaps for young people trying to get into work, and it's exactly the kind of early, real-world exposure that Urban Synergy prioritises as we know the importance for young people to learn and develop the necessary skills for the work place.
With almost one million 16 to 24-year-olds in England currently NEET (not in education, employment or training), and that figure is projected to rise to 1 in 6 young people within five years, opportunities like this are a vital part of the fight against the NEET crisis, giving young people the confidence, skills and real workplace exposure they need to move successfully into their future careers.