How can employers engage large numbers of young people meaningfully, without the usual barriers of time, transport and logistics?
A new two-day hybrid work experience pilot, delivered in partnership with Futures For All, demonstrates a practical solution, connecting employers with students at scale while keeping delivery efficient and impactful.
A Scalable Approach to Employer Engagement
Funded by the Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub, the programme reached 200 Year 9 students at University Academy Holbeach through a structured two-day model:
- Day one (virtual): Online delivery, introducing students to employers, sectors and workplace expectations
- Day two (in-school): In‑person engagement, with employers joining students in school to lead hands‑on, skills‑based projects
This approach enabled an entire year group to participate simultaneously. Eliminating transport challenges and reducing logistical complexity for schools and employers.
Employers Brought Their Industries to Life
Five organisations, DFDS, Willmott Dixon, Lincolnshire Co-op, Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind and Café Allez, delivered projects based on real business challenges. Projects included:
- Investigating the causes and impact of a real-world vessel delay as a terminal operations team with DFDS, creating a practical solution to manage the disruption
- Designing a Green Village within a strict budget, guided by Willmott Dixon
- Creating a marketing campaign to promote free fruit for Lincolnshire Co‑op - complete with a fruit‑themed rap and dance
- Designing a cost-effective way to connect an offshore wind farm to the main electricity grid, while avoiding protected sites and addressing potential community concerns, with Outer Dowsing
- Creating a scalable, profitable mobile food & drink business with a clear social mission with Cafe Allez
Through existing employer networks, including Cornerstone Group members, engagement was streamlined and aligned with both industry and education needs. Each employer designed a project rooted in real-world challenges, giving students the opportunity to step into different roles and develop key workplace skills such as teamwork, communication and problem-solving.
Why This Matters for Businesses
This programme was about raising awareness, challenging assumptions, and helping young people connect what they learn in the classroom to real jobs in their local area.
For employers, it demonstrated how employer engagement can be:
- Efficient and time-bound without compromising impact
- Scalable, reaching large student groups in a single programme
- Accessible, removing barriers in rural and coastal areas
- Strategic, supporting early talent pipeline development
"For those in rural and coastal areas, work experience placements are even harder to come by, thanks in part to a narrower selection of industries on their doorstep and a lack of public transportation options. It was therefore a pleasure for Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind to take part in this pilot and bring work experience into the school. Initiatives like this will help prepare the young people of Lincolnshire to take advantage of the thousands of skilled, well‑paid jobs forecast to be created by the offshore wind industry in coming years."
Jenny Marsden, Communications and Stakeholder Manager at Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind
Students reported increased confidence, stronger teamwork skills and greater awareness of career pathways. Furthermore, employers benefited from meaningful early engagement with future talent, while schools delivered high-quality experiences at scale.
The school reflected on the success of the approach:
“It has been a really successful two days. The students really enjoyed it and delivered some great presentations. They definitely enjoyed having the employers in school.”
A Model Worth Repeating
According to Sophie Bullivant, Work Experience Coordinator at the Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub:
“This hybrid programme by Futures For All is a great example of how large groups of students can take part successfully in an engaging, introductory experience of the workplace.”
This pilot highlights a repeatable, low-friction approach to work experience – balancing employer input with flexible delivery.
Businesses can get involved in similar programmes through the Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub, with options designed to fit different capacities and sectors.
Click ‘find out more’ or contact the team directly: GLCareersHub@lincolnshire.gov.uk
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