As part of the “Start Small; Dream Big” initiative with the Stoke and Staffordshire Careers Hub, The Inspirational Learning Group were delighted to welcome students from 8 primary schools to Keele University for the initiative’s celebration event. 

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. 

Earlier this month, BBC Bitesize announced the results of the Bitesize Careers survey 2025.  Over 4,000 young people shared their dream jobs with the BBC educational resource as part of their annual survey which explores the career aspirations for teenagers in the UK aged 13 to 16.

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!

On Thursday 13th March, TILG co-founders Ben and Michael Dyer had the honour of officially opening First Bus’s new learning centre in Hanley, Stoke on Trent.

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.”

We are delighted to announce the details of the biggest event of the academic year, The National Careers Challenge in partnership with NatWest Thrive Grand Finals!  

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!

As part of their February sessions, students in Cohort 2 and 3 of Next Engineers Academy visited the JCB Headquarters in Rocester and Farm Urban in Liverpool.  These visits provided a unique opportunity for students to connect with cutting-edge engineering practices and gain insights into how engineering is shaping the future and the world of work.

JCB World Headquarters, Staffordshire –  “Always looking for a better way”

Our Cohort 2 students had the opportunity to venture behind the scenes of JCB’s world famous diggers with a unique tour of the museum and factory.  Students learnt about the history of JCB – a company that evolved from a small farm machinery manufacturer to a global leader in construction equipment – and were able to get up close and personal to the JCB manufacturing process – risk assessed of course!

JCB employs thousands of people across its manufacturing, research, development and engineering operations in Staffordshire, making it one of the largest employers in Staffordshire.  Coupled with JCB’s ongoing recognition of the importance of investing in the future workforce and offering graduate schemes, apprenticeships and internships, the tour provided the young people with valuable experience and future options for their careers in engineering and manufacturing. 

Farm Urban – Healthier and more sustainable solutions to the broken food system.

As part of their “Feed a Family” project work, our Cohort 3 students travelled across the M6 from  our base in Stafford to Liverpool to visit Farm Urban – a company dedicated to integrating technology and urban farming. 

Farm Urban is focused on developing sustainable food systems using innovative engineering solutions to address the challenges of urbanisation and food insecurity. For engineering students interested in sustainability, this was an invaluable experience and provided our students with an opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge of engineering principles in a real-world, sustainable context!

Key takeaways for our Academy students

Both groups found the field trips an invaluable opportunity to reinforce the importance of real-world problem solving and continuous innovation within the world of engineering.  The experience of visiting the two sites demonstrated to our students the wide variety of opportunities within the sector and inspired them to consider their future career paths within the exciting world of engineering!

Calling all future entrepreneurs!

Earlier this year, we were excited to announce Simon Squibb, entrepreneur and founder of HelpBnk.com, as the official ambassador for The National Careers Challenge 2024/25. 

Here’s the best part: your students now have an exclusive chance to pitch their business ideas directly to Simon at the TNCC finals this July!

Simon is deeply passionate about helping young people develop the skills they need to succeed. This is a unique opportunity for your students to learn, grow, and even have their big idea seen by one of the leading entrepreneurs in the country!

Encourage your students to dream big and take a chance on their entrepreneurial vision.

The future is in their hands, and we can’t wait to see what they create!

How can your students get involved? It’s super simple:

1. Dream Big! Whether they’re entering solo or as a team, students should film themselves pitching their business idea. There are no limits to creativity – no right or wrong answers, just an energised, well thought out pitch that showcases their passion and vision!

      2. Submit Their Pitch! They can send us their video in any of the following ways:

• Upload using the JotForm here
• Email it to us directly dream@tilg.co.uk
• Upload it to Instagram or TikTok and tag @simonsquibb and @TILG_UK

Our team will review all the videos and reach out to invite the most exciting pitches to the TNCC finals to pitch live to Simon!

(Please note: By submitting, students agree to have their video shared on our social media platforms.)

Message from our ambassador, Simon Squibb …

“Hi! I’m Simon Squibb and I’m thrilled to be this year’s ambassador for The National Careers Challenge in partnership with NatWest Thrive.

You might have seen me on TikTok asking people to share their dreams, with me and my team helping to make it happen!

We want to help young entrepreneurs to turn their dreams into reality and budding entrepreneurs can pitch their ideas directly to me, through The National Careers Challenge.

We’ll be selecting the very best pitches to join us at the National Grand Finals in July and I look forward to seeing you there!”

(Please note: By submitting, students agree to have their video shared on our social media platforms.)

Building on the tremendous success of The Oli Leigh Trust Mental Health Challenge, The Inspirational Learning Group (TILG) is thrilled to announce the launch of its comprehensive online mental health training resources for adults in educational settings. The invaluable resources will be available to schools across the UK completely free of charge as part of TILG’s exciting new phase in its three-year partnership with The Oli Leigh Trust.

In September, TILG introduced The Oli Leigh Trust Mental Health Challenge, offering secondary schools across the UK free access to a set of impactful resources and challenge designed to raise awareness around mental health. Since its launch, over 170 schools have already received access to the challenge, and 10 schools have been selected to receive a fully funded delivery of the challenge, facilitated by TILG’s expert team.

Now, TILG is expanding its mission by offering free online training specifically for adults working in education—from primary schools to higher education institutions. Developed in collaboration with The Oli Leigh Trust, these resources are designed to empower educators, staff, and other school professionals to recognise the signs when someone is struggling with mental health, whether it’s a student, colleague, or loved one. With 60 minutes of engaging online learning, the training will equip users with essential skills to make a real difference in supporting mental health in schools.

The training features six comprehensive modules, each aimed at building confidence and knowledge around key mental health topics:

• What does it mean to be emotionally healthy?
• What can trigger a mental health episode?
• Spotting the signs
• Mental health first aid
• Signposting and support

Rebecca Clarke, Head of Education, Curriculum and Quality at TILG, said: “We’re delighted to partner with Michelle and the incredible team at The Oli Leigh Trust to create this life-changing training. Every adult who interacts with young people in an educational environment holds a crucial role in supporting their mental health. This training has been carefully designed to reflect that responsibility, and we are so proud that every school in the UK can access it—at absolutely no cost.”

TILG encourages all schools to take advantage of this incredible opportunity by expressing their interest using this link, ensuring their staff can access these essential resources and training to make a positive, lasting impact on mental health in education.

In an exciting first for the country, TILG recently hosted the first Primary School Teacher Encounter as part of the ‘Start Small; Dream Big’ initiative, in partnership with the Stoke and Staffordshire Careers Hub. This innovative programme was supported by local employer; GivEnergy, and will help North Staffordshire primary school pupils to dream big and explore the possibilities of their future careers.

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 pupils to meet inspiring employers, enabling students to explore different jobs and understand the skills that they will need for their future.

GivEnergy is the UK’s number 1 provider of residential battery storage and is a perfect example of the future opportunities available to today’s young learners. With a strong focus on innovative technology and sustainability, GivEnergy’s headquarters in Newcastle-under-Lyme and manufacturing plant in Stoke-on-Trent employ over 100 people locally, making it an exciting potential employer for young people across North Staffordshire.  We were delighted to collaborate with their not-for-profit education arm;, GivEducation and to support teachers in shaping tomorrow’s innovative workforce.

In January, over 30 primary school teachers from across North Staffordshire joined TILG’s Head of Curriculum, Education & Quality Rebecca Clarke and Partnerships Manager, Dan Mears at GivEnergy to participate in the first of the project’s primary school teacher encounters in the country!  Joined by Joe Basketts, Education Director at GivEducation, and George Rawding, Head of Communications at GivEnergy, teachers had the opportunity to engage directly with staff members from the respective organisations and were provided with practical examples and resources to enable them to embed careers into their primary curriculum. 

As part of the programme,  40 schools which have signed up to participate in the programme will receive access to a video-led challenge where pupils will recognise their skills as the employees of the future, whilst exploring sustainability and green careers.  The 5 session programme will culminate in students pitching their own innovative concept that could be developed and sold by GivEnergy in the future.  The interactive challenge resources will be made available to teachers via TILG’s proprietary online learning platform; LightBulb, in addition to a delivery guide and supporting resources to ensure that all pupils across the city are provided with a consistent and impactful learning experience. 

Joe Basketts, Education Director at GivEducation said, ““By allowing young learners the time to focus on their futures this early on in their school careers, we can not only contextualise learning outcomes for them but also inspire them to dream bigger when it comes to the type of careers they could achieve once they leave education. We’re immensely proud to be leading the way on this initiative, and we hope this can be a catalyst for other businesses nationwide to follow suit.”

Dan Mears, Partnerships Manager at TILG said: “It’s been a pleasure to support the Stoke & Staffs Careers Hub in rolling out The Careers & Enterprise Company’s ‘Start Small; Dream Big Primary Pilot across North Staffordshire.  As part of the programme, almost 40 teachers have taken part in the very first Primary Teacher encounter in the country and these interactions are so important because it allows us to impart knowledge into the people who are directly inspiring our future workforce. By equipping young people with key employability skills such as communication, problem solving and teamwork, we are better preparing them for an ever changing jobs market.  

A representative from The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Careers Hub said:  “A huge thank you to GivEnergy and GivEducation for showcasing how green tech is shaping the future, The Inspirational Learning Group for their unwavering support and all of the dedicated teachers who joined us, bringing passion and energy to embedding careers education into their primary curriculum”. These encounters are about more than just professional development; they’re about igniting a spark for the future in the minds of young learners. By empowering teachers with knowledge, resources, and industry connections, we’re building a brighter future where careers education begins early—because it’s never too soon to dream big!”

The programme will culminate in a celebratory finals event to be held in conjunction with Keele University on 26th of March 2025.

Over the last 2 years, 300 aspiring engineers from across Staffordshire have taken part in Next Engineers : Engineering Experience – a week-long programme which enables young people to become immersed in the engineering design process and complete design challenges inspired by real-world scenarios.  The experience enables students to forge connections with other aspiring engineers and transform them into enthusiastic explorers of the future.

The Next Engineers : Staffordshire Engineering Experience, which has become a firm favourite in The Inspirational Learning Group’s calendar, will return in August 2025 and is aimed at students who have just completed Years 9 and 10 who live in the greater Staffordshire area.  

“I’m interested in the Next Engineers : Staffordshire Engineering Experience – what can I expect?”

Throughout the week-long experience, 100 students will be introduced to the engineering process through design challenges inspired by real-world scenarios.  Students will also take part in field trips to University of Staffordshire and GE Vernova site, with opportunities to work closely with a professional engineering faculty and facilitation staff from The Inspirational Learning Group.  

The week is guaranteed to spark young people’s interest in engineering career paths and to raise aspirations for their future educational paths, whether that be university or apprenticeships.

The experience is open to students who either live or go to school in Staffordshire.

“This sounds great! Where and when is the experience?”

Engineering Experience will be held at TILG HQ  – Stafford Education and Enterprise Park, Stafford, ST18 0BF.

Experience sessions will run daily from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday each week and young people will be able to choose their preferred week:

• Monday 4th to Friday 8th August
  Monday 11th to Friday 15th August
  

TILG will arrange transport to and from each session for each participant (usually utilising the student’s school as the meeting point) – pick up and drop off times will be communicated to participant’s parents and guardians prior to the start of the experience.

“How much will the experience cost?”

The experience is completely FREE of charge and all young people will also recieve breakfast and lunch each day. This also includes a packed lunch for the field trip day!

“This sounds like something I would like to be involved in! How do I go about applying?”

Applications are now open! Use the link below to apply for your spot:

https://www.nextengineers.org/form/staffordshire-engineering-experience-application-2025

The closing date for applications is Friday 28th March, with successful applicants notified by Friday 25th April. Eligible students will be selected based on a lottery system, with students who have not attended a previous Engineering Experience given preference over students who participated in 2024.

For further information on the application process, please visit:

https://www.nextengineers.org/how-apply-engineering-camp

Don’t just take our word for it! We asked our young people and parents from previous years to share their thoughts about Engineering Experience …

“A fantastic week and my son enjoyed every minute. Thank you to all of your team for giving him such a wonderful and memorable experience” – Parent of 2024 participant

“We discovered that being enthusiastic and learning from mistakes is an important part of engineering” – 2024 participant

“We’ve loved this week! It’s shown us that engineering isn’t just for men, it’s for everyone!” – 2023 participant

Ben Dyer, co-founder of The Inspirational Learning Group said, We are delighted to be running the Next Engineers : Staffordshire Engineering Experience for the third year.  In previous years, we have been blown away by the number of applications that we receive and we expect similar application figures this year – demonstrating the significance of the experience to young people in the Staffordshire area,  We are so proud to be a part of this initiative with Next Engineers and GE Vernova and look forward to welcoming 100 aspiring engineers to our HQ this summer!”.

In today’s rapidly changing world where 85% of future jobs are yet to be created, it is vital that young people are equipped with the crucial skills, mindset and knowledge in order to thrive in their future world of work.  

Here at The Inspirational Learning Group (TILG), we are changing the way that young people are educated about their future and are dedicated to enabling young people to develop the key skills that are not easily taught in the classroom. 

Here’s why you should choose TILG to support your school’s career journey …

Engaging and relevant learning experiences

Since 2013, TILG has been at the forefront of careers and enterprise education, creating and implementing innovative challenges and programs for young people that are both relevant and engaging.

Our diverse portfolio of challenges includes The National Careers Challenge in partnership with NatWest Thrive, The National Skills Challenge, Stocks and Shares Challenge, Alien Apocalypse Team Building programme, alongside The Oli Leigh Mental Health Challenge and My Perfect University programmes.  All of which will enrich your students’ skills, ignite their ambitions, and foster meaningful career connections.

Complimenting our challenge portfolio, our one-of-a-kind curricula are the first of their kind and will revolutionise your school’s careers strategy.  Fully mapped against The Gatsby Benchmarks Skills Builder and the Careers Framework, our fully resourced, video-led workshops ensure consistency throughout your whole school and with a focus on either careers or enterprise.  Delivered over the course of day to create a drop-down session, or weekly as part of your PSHE curriculum, our Careers and Enterprise Curricula are an excellent way to engage your whole school in their careers journey.

Flexible options

With over 13 years experience of engaging with schools and teachers, TILG understands what works well in schools and what causes teachers a headache when organising an off timetable day for a whole year group!  

We are flexible to meet the specific needs of your school and will work with you to ensure that your challenge day is a success…

Struggling to find a space large enough to fit in a whole year group?  No problem, our team can deliver any challenge in classrooms.

Unable to take a year group off timetable for a whole day?  Our challenges can be delivered on a carousel basis, with students taking part in a condensed version of the challenge.

Proving difficult to receive sign-off on delivery cost?  All of our challenges are also housed on our online platform, Lightbulb Online, enabling  teachers to deliver the challenge with full resources to your students at a reduced cost.

Stress free booking and expert facilitation

Our facilitation teams are experts in all things challenge delivery!  

From your first conversation with our dedicated sales team, to your pre-delivery call and then to the delivery day itself, our  team will take the stress of planning out of your hands and utiulise our extensive experience in schools to ensure that your challenge day runs smoothly.  

Once you have decided which of our challenges would be best suited to your pupils, our team will help you select a date, book your school in and arrange a pre-delivery call to make sure that you’re ready for a fantastic day!

Our delivery team will arrive at your school, resources in hand, one hour prior to the challenge start time and will take the lead on expertly engaging with your students.

Raising aspirations

Raising students’ aspirations is not only about improving academic outcomes, but also about fostering well-rounded, motivated individuals who are prepared for life beyond school. 

Since 2013, our vision has been to connect young people with the opportunities available to them, ensuring that exclusive of their background or ability, young people are well-equipped for their transition into the workplace through their experience.

The challenge final days are a highlight in TILG’s calendar with winning teams from our challenges competing at events throughout the year.  Our finals events have been held at prestigious locations including Wembley Stadium and The ICC in Birmingham with students seeing their winning ideas made into reality.

However, our challenge days aren’t just about winning.

From exploring unknown career paths, to pitching their ideas to their peers, all of our challenges enable students to build confidence, raise aspirations and achieve things that they hadn’t thought possible at the start of the challenge day.

Proven track record of sucess

The statistics say it all; Over 700,000 students from over 370 schools have now engaged with TILG!  

We’re proud to share some amazing figures from students who have already taken part in our challenges this academic year… 

80% rated their challenge day “Excellent” 

88% now understand the skills that employers are looking for 

85% said that their challenge day has helped to develop skills that will be useful in the workplace!

Long term career success

At TILG we love what we do and are dedicated to our cause.  We could harp on about how the skills learnt through TILG’s programmes have enabled young people to go onto amazing things!  

But don’t just take our word for it …

“It’s really important to run these kinds of events in schools to enable students to see outside people coming in and to mix with different organisations and businesses.  The challenges also encourage the students to work with different people and bring them out of their comfort zone, something that schools aren’t always particularly great at doing.  I think every school should take part!” – Head of Year 7 at Oasis Academy Immingham.

“TNCC taught me valuable skills in business and people management, communication and leadership.  I also grew a passion to be the best that I can be which has inspired my career.  I’ve joined the RAF as a commissioned officer and am now training to be an air traffic controller”  – Frances Bishop,  2013 Most Enterprising Girl

“Amazing support and guidance from the facilitation team. Very clear instructions and all the students had a fun day learning and presenting their project” – Year 7 teacher, Cleethorpes Academy

“I really enjoyed the process of working through the challenges and eventually ending up with a complete presentation” –  Student. Chesham Grammar School

Whether you are a returning customer, or are hearing about The Inspirational Learning Group for the first time, our team is ready to book your school’s challenge delivery day.

To learn more, discuss available dates and secure your booking for this academic year, please call our team on 01785 875375 or email us at enquiries@tilg.co.uk

We look forward to empowering your students together!