Secure your Potential with Maven Securities – Case Study
Building confidence, communication and career readiness
After the final session, seven students came together to reflect on their experience on their Secure Your Potential experience with Maven Securities.
On arrival, most described feeling nervous about meeting new people, speaking in groups and talking about their career aspirations. By the end, they spoke about feeling an increase in their confidence, improvement in their communication skills and a great sense of readiness for life beyond school.
Before the programme, I used to avoid talking to people because I was scared I would bore them. But coming here, I’ve learnt more about different people. I’ve definitely improved my social skills and confidence.
A supportive environment to grow
The students valued the welcoming approach of the Maven volunteers and The Talent Foundry staff, who created an environment in which they felt comfortable contributing, practising new skills and making mistakes. Taking part in the collaborative activities, engaging with volunteers, coaching and presenting to the group helped the students to practice their teamwork, communication and planning skills. Particularly, the opportunity to receive personalised feedback and apply their learning throughout the programme helped students recognise their progress.
[The staff] were very optimistic. They made me feel like it was fine to speak up and that everyone makes mistakes… I became more comfortable to speak to other people.
Building confidence and communication skills
A recurring theme was the notable improvement in their confidence. They described becoming more comfortable sharing ideas, speaking in front of others and interacting with people they didn't know. What once felt intimidating became more manageable through practice and encouragement from the group.
I’m normally really anxious, but for some reason in this experience, when presenting, I wasn’t really anxious at all.
Usually I’d be overthinking everything, but this time I felt really calm and composed.
For some students, this increase in confidence extended beyond public speaking. Students spoke about also feeling more comfortable expressing their opinions, working with others, and building relationships with peers from different schools. Participants not only connected with students that they hadn’t met before, but also strengthened relationships with peers from their own school that they otherwise may not have got to know.
I didn’t think I’d actually make a friend group here. I didn’t expect friendships that will actually last to come out of this!
Preparing for the future
Alongside increased confidence, students developed practical skills they felt would support them beyond school. They improved their teamwork, communication and interview skills, with the STAR framework mentioned as a valuable tool for structuring interview responses and communicating their experiences clearly.
Before the programme, I struggled with interviews and didn’t know what to say. The STAR method helped me structure my answers and communicate clearly.
Students also reflected on the benefits of spending time in a professional office environment. Experiencing working life first-hand helped them gain a greater insight into future career pathways and feel more prepared for the transition beyond school.
I liked how it’s eye-opening to be in a workplace compared to a school setting. It’s an insight into what a future career might look like.
Now when we leave school, I wouldn’t be as worried about what life will look like outside.
Looking ahead
The focus group demonstrated that Secure your Potential with Maven has helped young people develop the confidence, communication skills and workplace awareness they need to navigate future education and employment pathways. The students left feeling more comfortable speaking in front of others, better equipped for interviews and teamwork, and more optimistic about their future.
This whole experience was eye opening and helped me understand myself as a person better.