Telford pupils learn real workplace digital skills in innovative careers pilot

Secondary school pupils in Telford have been getting to grips with the real skills demanded by today's workplace, from navigating AI-generated content to understanding the long-term impact of their online lives.

More than 20 students from New Road Academy and Telford Park School tackled a series of digital challenges in a pilot developed by the Marches Careers Hub and employers.

The students, in Year 9, spent the day at Telford College, covering how to handle AI & deep fakes, digital marketing and sustainability and online safeguarding and the implication all of this has on businesses.

The pilot is part of the Modern Work Experience model, developed through the Marches Careers Hub Enterprise Adviser network to move beyond the traditional week-long block placement.

Instead of spending time with a single employer, students worked with Enterprise Advisers, senior business volunteers who are embedded in the local business community and work strategically alongside schools to raise the quality of careers education and broaden young people's understanding of the world of work.

Andriané Usherwood-Brown, strategic careers hub lead, said: "This pilot gives students the chance to work directly with business professionals in fast-paced, hands-on sessions, with real workplace challenges at the heart of the day.

"We want to create more opportunities, not just for our young people, but for flexible approaches to work experience where employers can really have an impact on students during their time in education whether they are an SME or large employer."

Workshops were delivered by companies including Purple Frog Systems, CA Consultancy, Symbio-tex, Martin and Jones, businesses spanning digital marketing and media, technology and sustainability, each bringing their own sector expertise directly into the classroom environment.

Hollie Whittles, director at Purple Frog Systems, said: "It's really important that students get the opportunity to hear from employers because it brings the curriculum to life.

“It shows them why they're learning maths, why they're learning English and what we're doing in the real world with those skills. One of the key things about our session was inviting them to be really curious, to think about what they're seeing online and to challenge everything."

Laura Burke, of New Road Academy, said: "The opportunity for young people to have genuine experience of working with employers isn't always there, and that's a real gap. This is a different way of bridging that — giving students meaningful contact with the business world in a setting that's structured, relevant and genuinely engaging."

The Marches Careers Hub works to improve careers education for young people across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, operating as part of the national Careers & Enterprise Company network.

The event formed part of a wider programme being trialled ahead of expected full national rollout of the Modern Work Experience model in 2028, under which secondary school pupils will be offered up to 50 hours of workplace experiences across their time in school.

Schools, colleges and employers across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin interested in getting involved should contact the Marches Careers Hub at info@marchescareershub.co.uk or visit www.marchescareershub.co.uk

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Editors notes

The Marches Careers Hub supports institutions within the local authority areas of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin and works to transform careers education across The Marches region by linking education with business and helping secondary schools, colleges, and specialist institutions achieve the standards set out in the Gatsby Benchmark framework for world-class careers guidance.