Career Experience Programmes
for ages 14-17

IgnitED offers young people an unforgettable week of behind-the-scenes industry visits, hands-on skills workshops, personalised pathway guidance, and mentorship from professionals in your chosen field.

Experience university life and build lasting friendships with peers who share your aspirations.

3 venues. 5-day programmes. 6 industry options. Hundreds of professionals.

Four teenagers on a Medical work experience in surgical scrubs and caps standing around a surgical tray with medical tools in an operating room.

IgnitED’s 5‑day in‑person summer programmes at UK universities equip teens with

  • Hands‑on career experiences

  • Real‑world industry mentoring

  • Direct contact with leading organisations

  • Pathway guidance to shape their future professional journeys.

Our August 2026 Programmes are held at:

A young man with a backpack looking at a small private jet in a hangar, with another person inside the plane loading or unloading luggage.
Logo of the University of Surrey featuring a stylized deer within a circular emblem and the university's name.
University of Portsmouth logo
University of Brighton logo with a star icon above the text.
“My week at IgnitED was amazing! The week was packed with insight and engagement, opening my future with new skills, experiences, and networks. Such a valuable week with amazing support.”
— Baxter, Law Participant
Engineering careers programme students visit industry Rolls Royce company
Pupil in a Law work experience mock trial, wearing a white traditional curly wig and a black gown with gold pendant, speaking in front of a whiteboard.
“We are delighted to welcome IgnitED participants to Goodwood. Providing young people with first-hand exposure to industry professionals & real-world operations is invaluable in shaping future careers.”
— Sam Medcraft, Goodwood Motor Circuit General Manager

Industry organisations that featured in IgnitED

IgnitED has welcomed Participants from

  • Bishop Luffa logo

    Bishop Luffa School

    Chichester

  • Bohunt logo

    Bohunt School

    Liphook

  • Churchers College

    Churchers College

    Petersfield

  • Worthing High Logo

    Worthing High School

    Worthing

  • Hills Road

    Hills Road Sixth Form College

    Cambridge

  • Davison C of E

    Davison CE High School for Girls

    Worthing

  • Chichester High School

    Chichester High School

    Chichester

  • Regis School

    The Regis School

    Bognor Regis

  • Duchess Community High School

    The Duchess's Community High School

    Alnwick

  • Seaford College

    Seaford College

    Lavington

  • MRC Logo

    Midhurst Rother College

    Midhurst

  • New Hall Logo

    New Hall School

    Chelmsford

  • Chichester College Logo

    Chichester College

    Chichester

  • Angmering logo

    The Angmering School

    Angmering

  • Ditcham Park School Logo

    Ditcham Park School

    Petersfield

  • Bedales logo

    Bedales School

    Petersfield

  • Cowplain logo

    The Cowplain School

    Waterlooville

  • PHS logo

    Portsmouth High School

    Portsmouth

Programmes

  • Understand the skills and expertise required to build, create, and innovate in this hands-on programme. Delve into the industry of technology and design. Solve real-world problems while exploring career paths in civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering.

    Programme information here

  • Explore the life of a healthcare professional — everyday duties and challenges in patient care, research, and medical technology. Experience practical workshops and inspiring talks from industry experts.

    Programme Information here

  • Uncover the intricacies of the legal profession. Step into the courtroom and beyond, as you experience mock trials to understanding the foundations of justice. This experience offers a glimpse into understanding legal careers in the real world.

    Programme information here

  • Explore professional roles and pathways that help businesses & brands launch, grow, and thrive. Gain insights into entrepreneurship, financial management, and strategic brand decision-making with practical challenges and expert mentorship.

    Programme information here

  • Step behind the scenes of the creative industries with IgnitED’s Arts programme. Explore careers across creative practice and also associated roles across artistic organisations including curation, marketing, operations. Have contact with creative professionals through real-world experiences, expert-led workshops, and industry visits that bring the artistic fields to life.

    Programme information here

  • For those still exploring their aspirations. Discover real-world experiences across different industries, build connections, and understand the skills to set you apart. Whether you're exploring careers or exploring your passions, this is your chance to test drive different careers.

    Programme information here

Enquire

Watch IgnitED in action

A man presenting a certificate to a young woman in front of a banner that reads 'IgnitED' and 'Career Experiences'.

Did you know?

From 2026, UCAS will introduce a new 3‑question format.
UCAS Q3 asks: “What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?”
IgnitED helps learners prepare for the new 3‑question format, guiding them to showcase evidence of real‑world experiences, industry visits, and mentoring that strengthen their UCAS applications.

IgnitED is mission-led.
We create and deliver high‑quality industry mentoring and career experiences, with a commitment to breaking down socioeconomic barriers. A portion of every registration funds a place for a high‑achieving young person who otherwise could not attend. Read our 2025 impact summary here

The IngitED Method aligns with Gatsby Benchmarks 1-3 and 5-8.

The IgnitED Method

STAY IN THE LOOP!

Click here to see our latest updates @ignited_educationuk

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Friday Feature: Vinco Marketing 🚀 This week, we’re celebrating Victoria, founder of @vincomarketing for delivering an outstanding session as part of our Business Careers Experience Programme ✨ Victoria shared a powerful case study on how Vin
🔍 Friday Feature: AEC360 – Engineering This summer, our Engineering Career Experience Programme was powered by insights from some of the most innovative minds in the industry. One standout session came from Thomas Arnold, founder of @aec.36
📣 Excited to announce bookings are now open for August programmes 2026! We are delighted to confirm we will be running at 3 locations next year, The University of Portsmouth, Surrey & Brighton! Early bird offer for first 100 registrations, ch
Guess who’s back on your feed? 👀 Sorry for the quiet, we’ve been hard at work getting everything ready for our 2026 Career Programme launch. It’s going to be Exciting. To celebrate, here are some behind-the-scenes moments from th
Day 4️⃣ of our Ignited Summer Careers Experience and the sparks are flying! ⚡ From accountants, criminal lawyers, branding specialists, to surgeons, musicians and more, our participants have packed in first-hand insights, skills building, and plenty
💫 Wow what an incredible day of Industry visits! Gaining exclusive behind the scenes insights… From aircrafts to operating theatres, magistrate courts to art galleries & studios, to workshops with business founders and wealth advisors

As featured by

“At the heart of IgnitED is an innovative approach that goes beyond solitary work experience placements, to offer a dynamic group environment where young people can engage, collaborate and explore career pathways alongside like-minded peers who share their interests and aspirations.”
- Read the Article

Sussex World logo with a black and blue letter 'O' and black text on a white background.
Logo with the words "Ask Charlie" and "Homegrown Skills," featuring a decorative circle of branches with leaves and wheat.
Logo for Chichester Observer with the name in black and blue text, with blue lines above and below.

Enquiry Form

Complete the form below with your enquiry and we will be in touch shortly.

We can’t wait to hear from you!