Virtual Work Experiences

Integrated within the UCAS Hub, Springpod’s Virtual Work Experiences give students a taste of what a career in a particular industry is like through interactive, on-demand programmes with leading employers across multiple sectors.

Enhancing students’ employability skills, Springpod’s online learning programmes also help to spark interest, enabling them to broaden their horizons and make more informed decisions about their future career pathways.

For employers, this means that students are better prepared for interviews and the world of work, with more confidence and a stronger understanding of their sector and the career opportunities within it, whilst providing equal access to work experience for all.

Discover the benefits

97% of students believe work experience is important, yet only 39% had been able to gain any.

Source: UCAS Project Next Generation Report 2023

The Stationers' Company Innovator of the Year award 2024

The Stationers' Company Education technology award 2024

Our collaboration with Springpod to offer Virtual Work Experiences and subject tasters through the UCAS Hub account recently won the 'EdTech Innovation of the Year' and overall 'Innovator of the Year' at The Stationers' Company Innovation Excellence Awards 2024.

We aim to support students in exploring their future options and improve social mobility by broadening horizons, removing barriers, and widening access to higher education.

What are Virtual Work Experiences?

Springpod’s Virtual Work Experiences are immersive and informative on-demand learning programmes, created with leading employers from different sectors.

They enable young people to “try out” roles in their preferred industries and gain a better feel for what they are really like, helping them to shortlist the routes they want to pursue.

Accessed free of charge by the student and accessible on-demand through the UCAS Hub, each Virtual Work Experience includes 8-10 hours of real workplace activities – from observing live surgery to designing a lunar landing module – as well as pre-recorded talks from industry experts, interactive tasks, projects, and assignments.

Students can pause and come back to a programme at any time, and there’s no limit to the number of experiences they can try out.

With a completion certificate at the end of every programme, young people can evidence their employability skills, boosting their university application and CV.

99% of students completing Springpod’s Virtual Work Experiences rate their awareness of careers in their chosen industry as good or excellent.

Source: Springpod

Reach, engage and impact young people

Springpod’s Virtual Work Experiences on ucas.com provide a unique opportunity for organisations to reach more young people than ever before.

By providing a Virtual Work Experience programme, employers can showcase their brand values and core mission, highlight key roles and build connections with talented individuals that match their organisational values, skills and competencies.

Get in touch and get involved

What are the benefits for employers?

Scale your reach and impact

Showcase your employer brand, mission and values

Build an engaged talent pool

Provide equitable access

Reduce paperwork and workload

Report on engagement by demographic

72% of UK businesses say their growth is limited by skills shortages.

91% of students completing Springpod’s Virtual Work Experience programmes said they’d consider applying for a role with that organisation in the future.

Source: Springpod

Springpod is an online learning community that connects young people with world-leading employers and universities, enabling them to secure their brightest future.

Springpod partners with outstanding universities and employers to create interactive, experiential learning programmes. These programmes empower young people, giving them equal access to opportunities and enabling them to take their future into their own hands.

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91% of students that complete Springpod’s Virtual Work Experience programmes are confident they will find a job in their chosen industry.

Source: Springpod