Every young person – no matter who their parents are, what school they go to, or where they live – deserves the chance to succeed in life, and our programmes are designed to provide students with the support they need to get there. We run a variety of in-person and online programmes which support young people from less advantaged backgrounds to access leading universities, careers, and apprenticeships.
Pathways to the Professions is our flagship access to the workplace programme, designed to give students an insight into professional careers as well as university life. Over their last two years of school or college, students can explore opportunities in law, banking and finance, consulting, medicine or engineering.
We offer both in-person programmes, delivered by our university partners, and fully virtual programmes which provide students across the country with the skills and confidence to make informed choices about their future careers from the comfort of their homes.
Starting in Year 12 (England and Wales), Year 13 (Northern Ireland) or S5 (Scotland), our Pathways Online Programmes support students to explore career opportunities in law, banking and finance, or consulting. Too often these careers require professional connections, the ability to take on unpaid internships, and soft skills which aren’t taught at schools in order to break into them. None of these are easily accessible to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
I gained so much more from the programme than expected. Not only countless hours of work experience, including a few days with Deutsche Bank, but also relationships with a network of finance professionals, valuable information about higher education and university life, and the confidence and motivation to pursue a career in the industry – Pathways to Banking and Finance alumni
Each participant will have access to a work placement or Insight Week with our partner employers in their chosen field to gain practical skills, professional connections, and a greater knowledge of the day-to-day workings of the sector. Alongside this, our live webinars and skill masterclasses will span across students’ last 18 months of school and are built to provide training, advice, and support at every stage of the applications process. Students will walk away with:
- increased awareness of their career options
- increased networking opportunities for future jobs
- comprehensive employability skills, such as tips and tricks for interviews
- practical work experience to use on their CV
- support with university decisions and admissions, including access to alternative offers from university partners
Case study
The Pathways to Law programme provided a means of growing in ways I had never imagined. On the intellectual front, masterclasses and residentials meant I was regularly meeting with passionate academics who had a genuine desire to help me develop. On the practical front, networking events and work placements meant I had the opportunity to meet a wide range of industry professionals. All of this allowed me to develop to the point where I was able to overcome many of the barriers linked to a career in law. Six years on, I still use many of the lessons taught on the programme on a day-to-day basis.
Muzammil Malamji, Pathways to Law alumni, now trainee solicitor at Clifford Chance
Applications open in September. Find out more detail about the programmes on offer and how to apply.