As The 5% Club outlined recently in its paper We can’t let our young people bear the economic brunt of COVID-19, one of the most severe long lasting impacts of the pandemic could turn out to be its reduction of social mobility and of the future prospects of a generation of young people in the UK.
An example of this is the access to those all-important work experience opportunities for those about to make their career choice. Indications are that recruitment for internship and work experience opportunities has dramatically reduced as businesses respond to the impact of COVID-19 and social distancing restrictions remain in place, with surveys showing that the number of UK internships available has fallen by 64% in the past 12 months.
That’s why virtual work experience has become the new lifeline for young people looking to explore industries to work in, boost their employability and take their first tentative steps on their chosen career ladder. Inversely, it’s also a new essential for all employers trying to find ways to create and deliver their own programmes.
The 5% Club member, Pinsent Masons, has offered a successful virtual programme since September 2019, which has been accessed by almost 5,000 participants from nearly 300 different schools and universities from across the globe. The average participant rating of the programme is 4.79 out of 5.
Deborah McCormack, Head of Early Talent at Pinsent Masons shares their top tips for those looking to set up their own schemes.
Read Virtual Work Experience: a lifeline for career-starters