30th July 2025 How we support educators - Gatsby Benchmarks

The Gatsby Benchmarks define a framework for world-class careers guidance in education. Gatsby highlights that 'all young people should have equity of information, opportunity and experiences to help them make choices about their futures.'

This is how The Talent Foundry programmes are aligned to the benchmarks.

Gatsby Benchmark 1: A stable careers programme 

While the responsibility for a stable careers programme sits with schools, we support them by providing structured, high-quality careers opportunities that align with their existing provisions. Schools receive clear guidance on how our programme complements their careers strategy, and in our long-term school partnerships, we become embedded within their careers offer. 

In our recent Ofsted inspection, we highlighted the work we do with The Talent Foundry as a key part of the careers and aspirations opportunities we provide to our students.

Gatsby Benchmark 3: Addressing the needs of each pupil 

Our programmes are designed to challenge stereotypes and raise aspirations, particularly for young people from under-served backgrounds. We have extensive experience in dispelling misperceptions around gender, socioeconomic background and industry pathways, ensuring all students see themselves as capable of success in a range of careers.    

Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers 

Our workshops integrate real-world, problem-solving, teamwork, and communication exercises that develop essential skills for the workplace and encourage students to think about how their curriculum subjects and current studies link to careers.  

Gatsby Benchmark 5: Encounters with employers and employees 

Students experience meaningful employer encounters throughout of our programmes meeting the Gatsby requirement for students to engage with employers every year from the age of 11. We do this through:  

• In-school workshops: providing insight into the workplace, labour market, career pathways, practical application of employability skills and opportunities for students to interact with industry volunteers. 

• Office visits and insight events:  Students visit a partner office/site, take part in careers Q&A, explore the industry through problem-solving/team activities, and see a real-world working environment first-hand. 

Gatsby Benchmark 6: Experiences of workplaces

Many of our programmes include a meaningful sessions at workplaces - this may be an office, site or business unit with a range of employee volunteers. They include two-way interactions between young people and employees, opportunities to perform work-focused tasks or activities as well as receiving feedback about their work or presentations. Some of our partners also offer work experience weeks or internships.

We have recently been piloting a 'modern work experience' programme with the Careers and Enterprise Company and KPMG to bring employers together to collaborate on opening up opportunities for more young people.

Gatsby Benchmark 7: Encounters with further and higher education

Students can gain an insight into the opportunities that progression in education can bring - be that via our bursary programmes, pre-apprenticeship application programmes or our insight days into university life in partnership with higher education institutions across the country. Some of programmes involve current apprentices, advice and guidance from early careers teams and for universities, current students to showcase what university life is like 'on campus'.

I highly recommend The Talent Foundry for its exceptional dedication to providing students with incredible career opportunities and broadening their horizons. Through innovative programmes and partnerships, they equip young people with valuable skills, real-world experiences, and insights into various industries.

Read more about the Government's careers guidance provision for young people in schools [link].