Scaleup programmes

Back to programmes

Programme

LifeSkills, created with Barclays [Annual Review 2020]

Talent and Skills

Impact for scaleups

11.2m

Young people helped to prepare for the workplace since 2013

2.4m

More young people supported since 2019

87%

Secondary schools have registered

80%

Universities registered

77%

Of participants felt they had higher ambitions and aspirations

8 in 10

Participants felt more confident in their problem solving skills

Key sectors

Impact ventures / Social Impact Life Sciences & Biotech Building & Construction Manufacturing / Advanced Manufacturing Creative, digital, film, games & media Professional services Defence & security Technology & Communications Engineering / Advanced Engineering Transport & Logistics Environmental Science & Technology Farming, fisheries & forestry Finance Food & drink Healthcare

Launched in 2013, LifeSkills has helped more than 11.2 million young people prepare for the workplace, an increase of 2.4m since last year. Over 87% of UK secondary schools, 76% of UK further education colleges, and 80% of universities have now registered for the programme.

The programme brings together educators, businesses, young people and their parents, providing interactive tools for young people to learn in their own time or with their parents through a dedicated parents and families section. It includes a virtual work experience tool to allow young people to experience a day in the life of a business.

In addition, specific content  has been designed to support young people leaving care as well as those with Special Educational Needs.

During Covid-19 LifeSkills developed a suite of materials designed to be used to support home schooling as well as content aimed at supporting employees with their wellbeing and financial capability.  In the past year LifeSkills has also expanded its reach to include people of all ages and those already in the workforce, with new content which aims to support people to develop their skills, set up their own businesses, work more flexibly and support their wellbeing. The programme also has content to support those who work with adults who find themselves in more vulnerable circumstances, through the Job Centre or Local Authority.

The programme is regularly evaluated for its impact. The 2019 evaluation found: 88% of participants felt more motivated to do better in academic and vocational studies, 77% felt they now had higher ambitions and aspirations and 81% felt better prepared to make future career decisions. More than eight out of ten said they now knew how to tackle problems more effectively and 75% said they now understood how to use technology to find work. 89% of teachers rated the resources as good or very good.

LifeSkills, created with Barclays [Annual Review 2020] website