3 July 2026 Why early careers education is the key to igniting ambition
According to a report by Education and Employers, by the age of five, children have already formed stereotypical views about the kinds of jobs people do. These views are often based on factors including gender, ethnicity and social background. Fewer than 1% of children know about a job from someone visiting their school, relying on friends and family to shape their interests. As children get older, many don’t learn about jobs outside their immediate social circle, especially those living in under-served areas.
Job aspirations remain disconnected from the demands of the modern labour market, making early intervention and careers education even more important.
Giving young children access to role models from the world of work and connecting teachers with employee volunteers through high-quality, career-related learning can reduce the influence of stereotypes, enhance confidence, foster a positive attitude towards school and improve attainment. Bringing the world of work into view ensures that young people do not rule out career options due to a lack of knowledge, broadening horizons as early as possible.
Bridging the gap between education and careers
The Talent Foundry helps bring sectors such as financial and professional services into the classroom and takes young people, including primary pupils, out into the world of work, delivering programmes designed in line with the Skills Builder Framework, the equalex framework and the Gatsby Benchmarks.
Employee volunteers support students during our programmes, sharing their own career journeys and insights. This helps demonstrate that obstacles can be overcome, and that there is not just one route into different roles and sectors, sparking ambition and resilience in students.
Programmes for Primary pupils
Career-related learning can never start too early. At the Talent Foundry, we offer programmes for primary-aged children which are designed to build confidence and transferable skills, including:
LifeSkills for Primary Schools created with Barclays:
This skills development programme is designed for pupils aged 7-11 and responds to the specific needs of your school, helping to reach multiple Gatsby benchmarks. The programme improves students’ adaptability, aspiration, banking and budgeting knowledge, as well as building communication, teamwork and other skills.
KPMG Opening Doors to Opportunities: Primary In-Office Edition:
This programme offers students a taste of working life in a global organisation, providing hands-on experience participating in tasks inspired by real-world client briefs. It enhances pupils’ confidence, ambition and employability skills, preparing them to be able to make informed decisions about their future career and education pathways.
Learn more
If you want to increase student motivation and attainment while building positive attitudes towards school, particularly among those facing significant barriers in accessing opportunities, get in touch with us to talk about what we can offer your school: schools@talentfoundry.org.uk.