Scaleup programmes
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LifeSkills, created with Barclays [2022]
Talent and Skills
Impact for scaleups
16m+
Young people helped to prepare for the workplace since 2013
90%
Secondary schools have registered
87%
Universities registered
79%
Further education colleges registered
88%
Felt that the programme inspired action and long term change
83%
Participants reported improvement in knowledge and skills
Key sectors
LifeSkills, first launched in 2013, has provided support to more than 16 million young people enabling them to prepare for the workplace and continues to see increased participation. Over 90% of UK secondary schools, 79% of UK further education colleges and 87% 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.
The content is designed to provide young people with skills, knowledge and confidence. Users can access financial education, tips on employability skills, as well as core transferable skills such as solving problems and being creative, proactive and enterprising. LifeSkills includes a virtual work experience tool to allow young people to experience a day in the life of a business and offers them a CV builder to help them stand out when applying for jobs as well as online practice assessment tests.
In addition, specific content has been designed to support young people leaving care as well as those with Special Educational Needs.
The programme is regularly evaluated for its impact. The 2021 evaluation found: 88% of young people reported that the programme inspired action and long term change; 83% highlighted significant improvement in their knowledge; and 82% felt they now had higher ambitions and aspirations. More than eight out of ten said they now knew how to tackle problems more effectively and nearly nine in ten felt more confident about the future.
