6 March 2026 National Careers Week collaboration opening doors for Black Country students
- The Talent Foundry is running collaboration events during National Careers Week with KPMG UK for Black Country schools
- The goal is to explore cross-sector collaboration and provide meaningful work experience opportunities to under-served students
The Talent Foundry, an education charity, has partnered with KPMG UK and leading West Midlands employers to deliver exciting careers collaborations for 70 students Black Country based students as part of National Careers Week. The aim of each event is to unlock ambition and open doors to meaningful opportunities for young people, equipping them with the skills and confidence required to make informed decisions about their futures.
The first event took place on 3 March with students from Ormiston New Academy, who spent the day at Birmingham Airport taking part in a unique work experience programme designed to give young people real insight into careers in the modern workplace.
The event follows the successful pilot model delivered last summer by The Talent Foundry and KPMG UK in partnership with the Careers & Enterprise Company.
The day began with KPMG UK’s Opening Doors to Opportunities programme; an initiative aimed at reaching one million young people from lower socio economic backgrounds and supporting them to develop essential skills for the world of work. Delivered by a facilitator from The Talent Foundry, the session invited students to step into the shoes of KPMG UK consultants, working in teams on real client briefs to develop solutions to challenges focused on sustainability, society and artificial intelligence.
The afternoon brought more hands-on activities, this time led by Birmingham Airport professionals, giving young people direct insight into careers at the airport and introducing roles in an industry they may not have otherwise considered.
Throughout the day, students met volunteers from both organisations, strengthening key skills such as creativity, communication, and problem-solving.
The collaboration programme expands the innovative equalex Modern Work Experience model and brings together employers from different sectors to co-deliver high-quality, meaningful work experience for students in Years 9 and 10.
Further collaboration events took place during National Careers Week, with more Black Country schools taking part in similar experiences hosted by KPMG UK and regional employers.
Jenni Anderson, Chief Executive at The Talent Foundry, said:
Opportunities like this are exactly what we mean by modern work experience. By bringing together employers from different sectors, we can give young people a richer, realistic insight into the world of work and help them build the confidence and skills they need for their future. This collaboration offers a place-based approach to tackling inequality, which is crucial right now with unemployment among 18-24 years olds at a five-year high.
Andrew Bostock, Birmingham Office Senior Partner at KPMG UK, said:
Today’s event shows the power of collaboration in action. Through our Opening Doors to Opportunities programme, and by working alongside The Talent Foundry and regional employers, we’re helping students see what’s possible and giving them the confidence to shape their futures.
Antoinette Farrell-Jones, People Director at Birmingham Airport, said:
We are delighted to partner this initiative that enables young people from across the West Midlands to have an insight in to the roles here at Birmingham Airport. With a diverse set of skills across the site from engineers to security officers, to fire fighters and our main head office clerical functions, the airport is keen to showcase roles that are available to the future employees of the region.