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Real-life experience

Working to a live brief from a local business, you’ll gain real-life experience to add to your CV. We’ll help you learn and develop skills employers are looking for such as collaboration, teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills — plus interview techniques to help you land your next job.

See what we're doing with our young people group - Breaking Ground.

Who is it for

Young people aged 18 – 24 who are not in employment, education or training and live in the Southey or Firth Park Wards of Sheffield.

What the programme involves

Meet people working in tech, engineering and arts, create solutions for real workplace problems and choose training that supports your career goals. We’ll connect you with industry mentors, employability coaches and a network of young people right here in Sheffield to help you in your career.

How to register

The 2020 applications for this programme have now closed. The next round of applications will open in July 2021. To hear about this and other opportunities, subscribe to our newsletter.

Programme details

Location: Online via Teams
Hours: 10 am – 12noon, Tues - Thurs
Number of Positions: 12
Deadline: Next application opens in June

What you’ll get out of the programme:

  • Support with work and life skills from people who work in industry
  • Connections to live job roles
  • Help with job applications and applying for apprenticeships
  • Project-based learning with individual and group working
  • One-to-one support with career advice and mentoring (that doesn’t end when you get a job — we’re here for as long as you need us)
  • A network of young people from your community
  • Ongoing access to support, events and training
  • Mentor matching with someone working in your industry
  • Access to a laptop, WiFi and any resources you need to be successful
You’ll learn how to:
  • Collaborate
  • Identify and hone your skills
  • Network
  • Navigate your chosen career
You can join the programme if you:
  • Are 18 – 24 years old
  • Live in Southey or Firth Park Wards
  • Are not in employment, education or training
  • Can commit to the programme and communicate openly when you are not able to attend sessions
  • Are free for a selection day
The skills the young people have learned - designing, planning, and assessing a site for suitability accounting for design and safety considerations and safe handling of materials - are valuable for careers in creative industries. Creative problem solving, working as a team to overcome and adapt to unexpected obstacles, designing a site-specific project that reacts to the surrounding environment and serves a specific purpose within that environment are all skills that they will need.

- Mike Scown, Pottery Manager, Art House (2020)

You may not have experienced tech, engineering or arts before. If you are from a background that is underrepresented in these sectors (for example you are from a community of colour, did not go to University or had free school meals as a child), and you would like support to articulate how your experience is transferable to this role, please contact Elle, Elle@brightbox.org.uk, and she would be happy to help you think this through.

  • Register your interest
    Complete our registration form so that we can get to work and start finding you a mentor.

    Chat with us
    Meet, email or video call with one of our mentors who will help answer any questions you have and start setting up opportunities for you.

    Meet your project group
    Get to know your small group of 6, access employability support and complete a real world project

    Applications are now closed. To hear about this and other opportunities, subscribe to our newsletter.
    We believe the programme will be stronger with greater diversity and welcome applications from those who bring difference. Brightbox welcomes the whole person, and we understand that each of us bring our experiences, our backgrounds and our own unique lens to what we do. Supporting our participants means they are not selected to represent specific groups or organisation.

  • If your application is successful, you’ll need to be available for an online group selection day where you’ll take part in a collaborative group task and meet the Brightbox team.

  • It is important to us that our programmes are accessible. Please let us know if you would like to submit your application in a different format - contact us.

    Do you have an impairment, disability, learning difference that you would like us to be aware of, so we can ensure you can access the application, selection process or the programme?

    Want some help with your application? Attend one of our info sessions:

    Info Sessions:

  • If you’re an employer interested in accessing diverse young talent, speaking on the programme or mentoring a young person, please get in touch.

    If you’re a professional working with young people, let's work together. Drop us a message here.

Get involved

Are you an employer interested in accessing diverse young talent, speaking on the programme or mentoring a young person?

Are you a professional working with young people, let's work together?

Get in touch