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How we're making work experience meaningful for young people

Two senior leaders from Co-op Academies Trust have shared how they are transforming work experience to better support young people at risk of becoming NEET.

In a Q&A with the Careers & Enterprise Company, Jo Sykes, Director of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance at the Trust, and Rebecca Fox, Vice Principal and Careers Lead at Co-op Academy Leeds, explained how the school is already implementing the updated Gatsby Benchmarks ahead of them becoming statutory in September 2025.

Co-op Academy Leeds, which serves a diverse community with over 70 languages spoken and a significant proportion of students with English as an additional language, has adapted its careers programme to ensure workplace encounters are inclusive, varied and genuinely meaningful. Initiatives include enterprise challenges with major employers such as Unilever, a “careers safari” with local businesses, and a tailored, year-long programme of interactive employer sessions for students unable to access traditional work placements.

The school is also part of the equalex pilot, a multi-year model for delivering work experience that embeds learning outcomes across Key Stages 3 and 4, ensuring every student develops the skills, knowledge and confidence to succeed in the workplace.

Read the full Q&A here.