“I loved it today! It was fun and helped me plan for the future”.

High praise from a 15-year-old student coming out of a two-hour classroom session in school on a wet morning in the Midlands.

Since we have been working with The DHL UK Foundation to reimagine what meaningful encounters with employers can look like, reflections like this among our young people have become increasingly typical.

As one of the largest multi-academy trusts in England, at Lift Schools we are committed to delivering an excellent education for every child, in every classroom, every day. We’re thrilled, therefore, to be working in partnership with the DHL UK Foundation to help us achieve this and to deliver better futures for young people across the UK through the GoTeach programme.

Our three-year partnership connects students, particularly those from underserved backgrounds, in key stages 3, 4 and 5, with employees from different divisions of one of the world largest employers, DHL.

DHL employees come into school to deliver codesigned classroom-based activities, helping students to develop crucial employability skills whilst connecting curriculum learning to careers. As the programme progresses, DHL volunteers will lead virtual assemblies and where possible, students will visit a DHL site to apply their skills in context and gain first hand insights into the world of work.

So, what does this look like in practice? Well, let’s take the three-session framework we’ve designed for Year 10 students.

DHL employees deliver the sessions in school, having been well briefed beforehand. Students begin by exploring the logistics sector, challenging misconceptions and stereotypes.

They meet key employees before taking on the role of a logistics manager, working in teams to plan how to transport cargo (anything from jet engines and medicines to gorillas and cookies) across the world for different business clients, ensuring they use their mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills to deliver on time, within budget and within their environmental responsibilities.

Next, students must use their oracy skills, taking on the role of a human resources recruitment manager, practicing their interview skills and selecting the best possible candidate for a particular role in the company.

Finally, students will explore how technology is shaping workplaces of the future including observing robot pickers in modern warehouses. Students will be tasked with creating a pizza and applying design thinking to the delivery process before working in teams to take on the role of the innovation team at DHL.

Once the three sessions are complete, we aim to provide students with an opportunity to visit a DHL site where they will have the chance to complete an employer set task in the workplace.

Following the first session of the three-part programme, feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive:

• 97% of students have found the sessions useful and have learnt something new
• 92% of students state that they now have an improved awareness of the range of different careers and job roles that can exist within job sectors.

The theme of national careers week this year is ‘own your future’ and our work with the DHL UK Foundation is helping young people do exactly that.

After session 1, three quarters of students already tell us they now feel more confident in their understanding of how to apply their skills in the workplace and are more confident about finding a job that excites them.

In a world that is constantly evolving, it can feel increasingly tricky for young people to navigate change and make informed decisions. Developing direct links with employers and creating programmes in collaboration is the best way to equip our students to feel in control, take charge and be ready to thrive in the world beyond school.

Ryan Gibson is National Lead for Futures and Pathways at Lift Schools and is leading Lift Schools’ work with The DHL UK Foundation.