At The Inspirational Learning Group, we worked with academy players to help them recognise the skills they already use every day, and how these apply beyond the pitch. The focus was on bridging the gap between sport and the workplace, making those connections clear, practical and relevant.

The Inspirational Learning Group team delivered a series of interactive workshops centred around engineering and key employability skills including communication, teamwork, leadership, problem solving, creativity, resilience and presentation.

The day was designed to be hands-on and engaging. Players took part in a series of engineering-based challenges that tested their critical thinking and ability to work under pressure.

• Building the tallest possible structure using only paper and card, designed to hold a ping pong ball
• Creating a stable solution to balance the ball using limited materials
• Designing and building a working floodlight system using electrical circuits

Each activity required players to collaborate, think strategically and adapt quickly, mirroring both match-day environments and real workplace scenarios.

The sessions delivered by The Inspirational Learning Group not only developed these skills further, but helped players understand how they transfer into industries such as engineering, construction, technology and beyond.

Impact

Players demonstrated strong engagement throughout, showing clear progression in how they approached challenges, communicated as a team and reflected on their performance.

Importantly, they left with a better understanding of their own strengths and how these can be applied both within football and in future careers outside of the sport.

Player Feedback

“Today showed us that the skills we use in football, like communication and teamwork, can be used in other jobs as well. The challenges made us think differently and work together properly.”

“We didn’t realise how much problem solving and thinking goes into things like engineering. It was good to see how it links to what we already do every day.”

Looking to do something similar?

If you’re looking to develop the skills of your young people and better prepare them for the world of work, get in touch with The Inspirational Learning Group (TILG). We deliver bespoke workshops tailored to your setting, designed to bring out the very best in every student.

The post Stoke City Football Club Academy appeared first on The Inspirational Learning Group.

On 2nd July 2026, The National Careers Challenge Grand Final will be held at the Telford International Centre, bringing together around 1,000 students from schools across the UK.

Delivered by The Inspirational Learning Group, the Grand Final marks the end of months of in-school challenges, where students have worked on real employer-led briefs, developing ideas, building confidence, and strengthening key skills.

This year’s Final is delivered in partnership with NatWest Thrive as the main partner, alongside Air Products, British Airways, NatWest (Year 9) and Gymshark (Year 10). Each sponsor sets a live brief, giving students the opportunity to engage with real industries and expectations.

On the day, students will present their ideas in a live setting. No slides. Just their thinking, teamwork, and ability to communicate clearly under pressure.

New for 2026 is the equalex Zone.

This will give students the chance to take part in one-to-one interactions with employers through short, practical activities. Designed to go beyond traditional careers events, it gives students something to complete, reflect on, and take away.

With a full day of activity, the focus is on the skills employers look for in young people. Communication, problem solving, teamwork, and confidence.

We’re looking forward to bringing the Grand Finals BACK to Telford and sharing more with you in the lead up.

#TNCCFinals2026

The post The National Careers Challenge Grand Final Returns to Telford for 2026 appeared first on The Inspirational Learning Group.

What followed over the next year was a steady, genuine shift, the kind that happens when a young person is given time, encouragement and the chance to try things they never thought they could do.

Step by step, Connor rebuilt his confidence
Working closely with his work coach, Connor started taking on small opportunities and gradually built up to bigger challenges. With every session he completed, he grew a little more sure of himself.

Across the year, he completed training in employability, CV writing, digital and life skills, Stoke by Numbers, Level 3 First Aid and an introduction to sports coaching. He also achieved advanced safeguarding through the FA.

For someone who once couldn’t picture getting through a Level 3 course, these achievements meant more than certificates, they were proof he could move forward.

A turning point in sport
Connor’s work experience through the Future Pledge placed him with Port Vale FC, and it was exactly where he needed to be. His calm, steady way of working stood out straight away. Coaches described him as committed, reliable and someone who brought a positive atmosphere to sessions.

For Connor, this experience opened up a path he had never considered seriously before: supporting other young people, especially those who are autistic, through coaching and sport.

A new chapter
Connor is now working full-time with GXO and continuing his FA Sports Coaching qualification. He has routine, purpose and growing confidence in where he’s heading. His long-term aim is to become a coach who can help neurodiverse young people feel understood and capable, something he once doubted he would ever feel confident enough to do.

His journey hasn’t been quick or easy, but it has been real. And it shows exactly what can happen when a young person is given the right support at the right time.

About the YES Project
YES supports 16 to 24 year-olds in Stoke-on-Trent who are not in education, employment or training. The programme is delivered by YMCA North Staffordshire, TILG, Stoke City Community Trust, Landau and Youth Offending Services.

Across the programme this year:
• 500 young people enrolled
• 176 received support with mental health
• 215 completed life skills training
• 196 completed CV writing
• 222 took part in job search
• 275 completed employability training
• 66 sustained employment at 1 month
• 31 sustained employment at 6 months

 TILG’s part in Connor’s journey
As a delivery partner, TILG works with young people to build confidence, develop practical skills and recognise their strengths. Our sessions give young people space to try things in a supportive environment and see new possibilities for themselves.

Connor’s story is just one example of what happens when a young person is encouraged, supported and given time to grow.

Partner With Us
If you’re looking for an education partner who can genuinely engage young people, build their confidence and help them take the next step in work, training or further education, we’d be happy to talk.
TILG works with schools, local authorities and community programmes to provide practical, meaningful support that makes a difference to young people’s lives.

To explore how we can work together

Get In Touch

The post SUCCESS STORY – Connor’s Journey: From Feeling Lost to Finding His Future appeared first on The Inspirational Learning Group.

After winning the Oli Leigh Challenge at The National Careers Challenge Finals 2025, the team officially launched Mindful Mondays on 10th October, to mark World Mental Health Day.

The launch was attended by Councillor Adam Parks of Staffordshire Moorlands council, Michelle Leigh (founder of the Oli Leigh Trust), representatives from The Inspirational Learning Group (TILG), and the students’ proud parents and teachers.

Mindful Mondays encourages pupils to take time each week to reflect on how they’re feeling, take part in short mindfulness activities, and talk openly about mental health. 

The idea began as part of the Oli Leigh Challenge, delivered by TILG with the Oli Leigh Trust, which asked students nationwide to design resources that could support wellbeing in schools or local communities.

With help from Rebecca Clarke, Head of Education and Curriculum at TILG, the concept has developed into a digital resource now available FREE to all UK schools through TILG’s Lightbulb Online platform. Resources include teacher guides, posters, presentations, and staff training, supporting schools to meet the Department for Education’s new RSHE guidance, which now requires suicide prevention and mental health education to be embedded within the curriculum.

Speaking at the launch, Michelle Leigh, founder of The Oli Leigh Trust, praised the team for turning tragedy into action:

“Oli’s legacy is about saving lives through early education and conversation. Seeing these students take that message forward in such a meaningful way is incredibly special.”

Councillor Adam Parks added:

“This is an inspiring example of what happens when young people are empowered to lead the way on important issues. Blythe Bridge should be extremely proud.”

The Mindful Mondays app is currently in development, with plans for release in 2026, giving students the chance to access activities independently. Schools can access all resources for free here:
https://form.jotform.com/242493051403347

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Across the fortnight, students took part in a series of hands on challenges designed to develop critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork, all inspired by real world engineering scenarios. One highlight saw students explore Newton’s Third Law of Motion, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, by applying it to a mini-golf challenge, where they had to design and test courses that demonstrated the principle in action. 

Other activities included building the tallest towers, creating hydraulic arms powered by syringes, and developing prototypes that could lift and move marshmallow objects, all pushing students to apply theory in fun, practical ways.

Each day ended with an “Engineer of the Day” award, celebrating those who had shown outstanding effort and ingenuity, appreciated and recognised by students and parents. 

The programme also gave students the chance to see engineering in action beyond the camp. They visited Staffordshire University to experience what engineering at higher education level looks like, and were given exclusive access to GE Vernova’s factory in Stafford, where they explored different industries, career paths, and witnessed cutting edge engineering in practice.

The camp was supported not only by TILG’s experienced facilitator team but also by more than 40 volunteers from GE Vernova. Week one featured support from Maddie, Ehab, and Emily, while week two saw Maddie joined by Oliwer and Nathan – all recent graduates of Cohort 1 and 2. 

Emily shared her reflections:
“As I’ve done academy myself I understand how important it is for students to have a go at these experience weeks. It’s so important trying new things, to inspire for things when they are older, it’s an amazing career path that it can get students into. They’ve had amazing week testing different activities and projects. It’s been great. As well, for their presentation skills it’s an opportunity like no other.”

Alan from GE Vernova also added:
“I’ve been attending many of these Next Engineers events. It’s an absolutely wonderful opportunity for the children, it’s fantastic. They are the future of our industry, and we need engineers and we need top quality graduates. And these, are going to be the future. You can see it in their experiences that are gaining here and their enthusiasm and its what we need, it is the future.”

At the end of each week, proud parents and guardians were welcomed to a showcase event where students presented their final prototypes on stage, sharing their designs, findings and insights. These sessions gave young people the chance to develop their public speaking skills and demonstrate the passion for engineering they had built throughout the camp.

Parents were quick to share their gratitude for the programme. One said:
“I just wanted to send a quick email to thank you, Liam, Ben, Caroline, Emily, Maddie, Nathan, Sammie and the rest of the TILG and GE Vernon a team for a wonderful week. It’s been really special to see how much Shey has enjoyed the week and a real spark in her passion for engineering. She has come home every day telling us every detail of everything that’s happened. This week couldn’t have happened without every single one of you making it so memorable, educational and inspirational for Shey and clearly all of the young people that were there. Thank you so much.”

Another added:
“I just wanted to make contact to thank everyone involved for the fantastic opportunity provided with the Engineering Experience. M**** got so much out of the week – she thoroughly enjoyed the activities planned and learnt a lot about the processes an engineer has to go through. From a parents perspective, it was reassuring to have such a well organised course, with such great communication. I was also very grateful for the specific support put in place for M***** – having an autism diagnosis, she is much more comfortable with a clear structure and she really appreciated having someone (Caroline) to make contact with if she was unsure about anything. I know that this experience has helped her confidence to grow considerably and she was delighted to receive her award for being ‘Engineer of the Day’. Wishing you all the best of luck with future experiences.”

Another successful year of inspiring the next generation of engineers. Congratulations to all students who took part.

As we move into the 2025/26 academic year, The Inspirational Learning Group will continue to expand opportunities for young people through the Next Engineers Discovery Programme. These sessions, delivered free to schools across Staffordshire, give Year 9 pupils an introduction to engineering, broadening their knowledge and inspiring future career choices.

The post Over 100 students inspired to be the Next Engineers of our generation! appeared first on The Inspirational Learning Group.

Ben Dyer, co-founder of The Inspirational Learning Group and Rebecca Clarke, Head of Education and Programmes, were recently invited to participate in the Financial Street Youth Summit hosted by the Global Innovation Center, Beijing Financial Street Education Investment Company, Beijing Financial Street International Education Technology Company and SKT Education Group – The Inspirational Learning Group’s international delivery partner in China and Hong Kong. The Global Innovation Center integrates government, industry, academia and finance to promote global innovation exchange, working with leading Nobel prize winners and prestigious education institutions across the world.

The theme of the 2025 World Youth Forum was Driving innovative business models with Digital Finance, with speakers representing a wide range of businesses and financial institutions.  Ben represented TILG in a panel discussion focussed on Talent Demand and Career Development in the Era of Digital Finance.  From the discussions it was apparent that all nations are facing the same issues in relation to skills development in the face of an ever-changing employment market driven by rapidly developing technology.

Ben stated that technologies such as AI, data science and machine learning are no longer niche disciplines, they are skills that every young person must learn and understand. However, he also noted that soft skills such as empathy and interpersonal communication are the key drivers for fostering innovation and addressing and resolving crises. These skills are essential for the development and integration of new technologies into business and finance. Furthermore, he pointed out that improving work experience opportunities for younger students is crucial in enhancing their academic capabilities, stressing how vital it is to foster collaboration between industry and academia to better equip learners with a broader range of practical skills.

Day 2 of the conference was focussed predominantly on the education sector with an overarching theme of Emerging talent challenges in the AI era with key- note speakers from including, Zhao Gang -Director General of the Global Innovation Center, Wang Yuxi – General Manager of Financial Street Education and Li Quan – Director of The Financial Research Institute at Nankai University.

Ben joined a panel discussion entitled AI empowered innovation and new competency education and interdisciplinary practice, which looked at the challenges in bringing together different curriculum areas and employers to promote skills development in an interdisciplinary, cross-curricular approach. Ben asserted that AI can be a valuable tool, particularly in the field of education where it can help learners acquire knowledge faster and more effectively but emphasised the importance of teaching the skills to critically evaluate the information generated by AI. The panel acknowledged that the future of education is not built by one, but by all and that an educational ecosystem should be developed where AI empowers learners to thrive.

Rebecca was invited to join education experts from across the globe for a further panel discussion Reforming Youth Competency Assessment in the Digital Economy. Rebecca acknowledged that, like many other countries represented at the conference, the system of assessment in the UK did not accurately reflect the skills and competencies that employers are seeking in new hires. Echoing the thoughts of the other panel members, she emphasised how programmes like The National Careers Challenge can bring together employers, educators and different curriculum areas to help learners of all academic abilities to develop and recognise their transferable skills. Rebecca also stressed the importance of recognising these skills formally, showing that they are of equal importance to the more traditional academic competencies.

Following the conference, Ben and Rebecca were invited to join a meeting with representatives from the Financial Street local government, where it was agreed that it was of critical importance to support the development of entrepreneurial talent within the education sector, bringing together educators and employers from high- growth sectors including data, digital finance, digital broadcasting, animation and VR.

Finally, delegates were delighted to visit Beijing Financial Street Runze school, a high-end international school providing education to students aged 4 to 18. The name Runze means ‘Hidden but influential, wise and ambitious,’ with the school principal, Liu Changming, offering students a holistic education and a rich extra-curricular programme with a strong emphasis on drama and the arts.

It was an honour and privilege for The Inspirational Learning Group to be invited to attend this conference which has highlighted the global demand for multi-disciplinary, employer-led programmes which bring together employers and educators to prepare learners for future employment and career success.  The conference also offered the opportunity to forge a closer relationship with SKT Education and to explore further TILG programmes that could be developed and delivered to schools in the region.

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The ‘Start Small; Dream Big’ Primary Careers Pilot, developed by the Careers and Enterprise Company, is designed to ignite young imaginations and raise awareness of their future world of work. The programme brings learning alive by linking curriculum learning to careers and providing opportunities for students to meet inspiring employers, enabling them to explore different jobs and understand the skills that they will need for their future.

Supported by local employer GivEnergy, over 40 primary schools from Staffordshire have had the opportunity to take part in the initiative which has seen students learning about the skills of the future, whilst exploring sustainability and green careers through a video-led challenge developed by our Head of Curriculum, Education and Quality Rebecca Clarke.  

The 5 session programme culminated in the students pitching their own innovative concept that could be developed and sold by GivEnergy in the future. 

On 26th March, over 60 students from 8 primary schools joined The Inspirational Learning Group, GivEnergy and Stoke and Staffordshire Careers Hub at the Westminster Theatre in Keele University to share their innovations, complete an engineering activity and enjoy a delicious pizza lunch! 

Hosted by The Inspirational Learning Group, we were delighted to see some incredible presentations from the students – innovative ideas and confidently taking to the stage, it’s no mean feat for the students, some of whom were as young as Year 3!  The students were an absolute credit to themselves and their schools and with these young people at the forefront of sustainability, the future is looking very bright!

Dan Mears – Business Development & Partnerships Manager for The Inspirational Learning Group said, It’s been a privilege to support the Careers & Enterprise Company’s Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Careers Hub with the rollout of the Start Small; Dream Big Primary pilot in the region. The programme has seen collaboration between educators and industry to deliver a teacher encounter, to arm primary educators with the knowledge, insights and awareness of Careers Related Learning, along with a comprehensive CPD programme and an exciting interactive activity for their students.

We’re grateful to the Careers Hub for placing their trust in us to deliver the programme successfully, appreciative of GivEnergy – our partner from industry who enabled us to deliver some key insights into the sustainability and green economy sector – and, Keele University for hosting the celebration event. Most importantly, I’d like to thank the teachers and students who took part in the pilot for their enthusiasm and commitment to embrace the ethos of the programme over the past year.

We look forward to continuing and expanding our work in the primary sector, as we know how critical early intervention is for young people, to prevent life-limiting stereotypes and perceived barriers”.

Want to learn more about how we can support your company to engage with young people and develop your early career talent pipeline? 

Contact our Business Development team here. 

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Maintaining its top spot for the second consecutive year was “Doctor”, with “Engineer” and “Teacher” remaining in the top 3 preferred professions.  Notably, “Pilot” entered the top 10 for the first time this year, with “Building Trade” also making a reappearance after dropping out of the list and “Artist” not appearing in this year’s list after ranking 8th in last year’s survey.  

Top 10 jobs teens want – based on the results of the Bitesize Careers Survey 2025

1 – Doctor

2 – Engineer

3 – Teacher

4 – Vet

5 – Police Officer

6 – Lawyer

7- Nurse

8 – Footballer

9 – Building Trade

10 – Pilot

At The Inspirational Learning Group, we have also been conducting our own careers survey and have asked students who have taken part in The National Careers Challenge during this academic year to share their career aspirations.  Unsurprisingly, the careers on our list are very similar to the BBC Bitesize version (albeit a couple of order differences):

Top 10 jobs teens want – based on the results of The Inspirational Learning Group Survey 2024/25

1 – Footballer

2 – Lawyer

3 – Doctor

4 – Engineer

5 – Actor – not mentioned in BBC Bitesize Survey

6 – Teacher

7 – Pilot

8 – Vet

9 – Architect – not mentioned in BBC Bitesize Survey

10 – Police Officer

On the surface, it could be said that the results of the survey are positive. These roles reflect young people’s desire to educate and help future generations, in addition to highlighting interests in justice and problem-solving roles.  However, what is highlighted so clearly in both lists is the disconnect between emerging careers and young people’s career aspirations.  Careers that include emerging trends and technologies such as renewable energy, cyber-security, big data and AI are nowhere to be seen in either BBC Bitesize or The Inspirational Learning Group’s  lists.

Is this the students’ genuine oversight to their future labour markets, or are young people blissfully unaware of the jobs of the future? 

The majority of the roles included in both lists are traditional roles, perhaps the careers that their parents have followed, or those that they see on television?  In these uncertain times, it could be that young people are preferring roles that are well established, reliable and respected within educational institutions.  

Emerging careers are often less tangible because they are still in the early stages of development. With limited case-studies available, it can be challenging to fully grasp or relate to these future career paths, particularly when they do not relate closely to the more traditional subjects being taught in schools. How do young people gain exposure to new technologies and emerging skills if these are not represented within the National Curriculum?

Worryingly, there will be significant skills gaps in the future if this issue is not addressed rapidly.  As the old saying goes,  “if you can’t see it, you can’t be it!”.  

At The Inspirational Leaning Group, we believe that it is not just schools’ responsibility to ensure that young people are as well-equipped for the future as they can be – it’s everyone’s responsibility.  Parents, schools, employers and providers such as ourselves need to ensure that young people have the opportunity to explore these rapidly emerging sectors, to meet inspirational employees and develop the key skills that they will need to become successful in their future careers.

We are dedicated to providing young people with innovative opportunities to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. By working together with employers, we can empower the next generation to embrace new technologies, explore emerging industries, and cultivate a passion for lifelong learning. 

We are committed to making sure that every young person is inspired, prepared, and ready to shape their future with optimism and success.

Ready to explore how we can collaborate and make a difference together? 

Get in touch with us today to learn more!

The post The Inspirational Learning Group announce results of careers survey appeared first on The Inspirational Learning Group.

This cutting edge facility is part of a ground breaking partnership with the Unite Union, aimed at boosting educational opportunities for 1,600 frontline employees across Manchester, the Midlands, and South Yorkshire.

Ben and Michael were thrilled to be part of the launch on March 13th. Ben shared, “At The Inspirational Learning Group, we’re passionate about empowering young people with vital enterprise and employability skills. The vision behind First Bus’s learning centre perfectly aligns with our mission and as proud Stoke on Trent natives, we couldn’t be more excited to help open this important space.”

The post The Inspirational Learning Group Co-Founders Open New Learning Centre for First Bus appeared first on The Inspirational Learning Group.

Bigger and better than ever before, this year’s Grand Finals will be held on Tuesday 8th July at London’s iconic Barbican Centre.  Not only in the Barbican Centre the largest performing arts centre in Europe, it is also the perfect setting for a full day of inspiration and career exploration. 

Schools, get ready for an unforgettable day as we celebrate the innovative students who have taken part in the challenge this academic year.

We cannot wait to welcome so many students, teachers and sponsors to our BIGGEST event of the year!

Mark your calendars, spread the word and stay tuned to our socials for more exciting updates.  

Let’s make #TNCCFinals25 an event to remember!

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