3rd November 2022 Bridge programme relaunches
“Most courses don’t provide much experience and the Bridge to M&G programme did. It was perfect for someone like me who is a practical learner. At school we’re not always taught about alternative routes that can be taken, like apprenticeships.”
The UK has an acute skills shortage, and it’s widely recognised that apprenticeships are a key part of the solution.
This year we are bringing The Bridge – our pre-apprenticeship programme – to young people living in Bristol, London, Manchester, Stirling and Stratford-upon-Avon to meet an urgent need to provide high-quality educational options to young people who wish to pursue more vocational careers.
The Bridge provides bespoke training and coaching support for school leavers, getting them ‘match fit’ for interviews and assessment centres for apprenticeships and entry-level roles.
Last year we piloted the model with our partners Barclays and M&G, taking 75 students in small groups of 25 through a series of facilitated workshops, coaching sessions and interview masterclasses. These sessions helped them to recognise the skills they already had and gave them the time and confidence to work on how to communicate their transferable experiences in an interview or during a selection process.
For some students, the programme helped them to crystalise their choice of moving onto higher education and securing a place at university. Seven students were successful this year in securing their first role and we are looking forward to following their career journey.
Join the Bridge
This year we are working with M&G and The Co-op to prepare young people to apply to two apprenticeship pathways. Teachers can book an insights day about apprenticeships and go on to register their students onto a Bridge programme by contacting Isabel Philpott.
Jane Rawnsley, Group Head of Corporate Responsibility, M&G said:
“We are delighted that we have been one of the first organisations to partner with The Talent Foundry on this new programme for young people. The Bridge is an innovative approach to showcasing the opportunities that an apprenticeship can offer whilst supporting students to develop the skills they need to be successful in the application process.”
Visit Bridge to M&G programme page Visit Bridge to a Legal Services career page Watch our Bridge video
Thank you to our funders
Development of the Bridge programme has only been possible through the financial support of the 29th May 1961 May Charity, Swire Charitable Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation and the Rayne Foundation. Thank you to Barclays and M&G for piloting The Bridge last year and to Odgers Berndston for providing pro-bono support to students with interview and assessment centre practice.