This case study reflects a recent work experience project involving six students from Barnwell School in Stevenage.

The group included three Year 10 students and three Year 12 students. The programme was designed to give them a practical and meaningful insight into project management as a career, while also supporting their development through hands on experience in a real world setting.

The first part of the programme took place at Tesco, where the students were hosted by Sam Sullivan, Enterprise Adviser for Barnwell School. The day was centred around introducing the students to the concept of project management. We explored what project management means in practice, what skills are required, and how it can develop into a career. My aim was to ensure the students understood that project management is not just about planning tasks, but also about communication, organisation, problem solving, and resilience.

“What an amazing group of students, they all had great ideas and engaged really well throughout the session, it was a pleasure to host them here.
I hope they enjoyed the day as much as we did, we saw their confidence and skills growth throughout the day.
It was a great session with the students; they had so many ideas and really started to grasp the complexities and the skills required to be a great project manager.”       
 Sam Sullivan -Tesco

 

To bring this to life, we used Generation Stevenage as a working example. This is a large scale careers event organised by Hertfordshire Careers Hub, and it provided an excellent case study for the students to examine. We looked at how such an event is planned and delivered, focusing on key elements such as logistics, coordination, and stakeholder management. The students worked through practical exercises including reviewing table plans for the event and analysing the student information booklet. This booklet is sent out in advance and contains details of the exhibitors, helping students to prepare and make the most of their visit. These activities gave the students a genuine understanding of the level of detail and forethought involved in delivering a successful event.

The second part of the programme was the highlight for many of the students. On 5 May, they attended Generation Stevenage at Knebworth House, where they were able to experience project delivery first hand. The event itself was significant in scale, with 84 employers in attendance and approximately 1600 students visiting throughout the day. It was an extremely busy environment, and one that required quick thinking and adaptability.

The Barnwell students supported the event team on the day and demonstrated a high level of maturity and commitment. They were involved in a range of tasks, from helping to guide visiting students to assisting with general event operations. Inevitably, there were challenges. One of the most notable issues was that the coach arrivals became out of sync, which created pressure from the schools attending. The students played an active role in helping to manage this situation, showing initiative and remaining calm under pressure. Their ability to adapt and contribute positively was genuinely impressive.

What stood out most throughout the day was how quickly the students grew in confidence. They engaged with employers, supported other students, and became an integral part of the event team. It was clear that being part of a live project allowed them to apply what they had learned in a meaningful way. They were not simply observing, but actively contributing, which made the experience far more impactful.

 

“A last min let down left me having to do the event by myself or so I thought!

Generation Stevenage happily provided some work experience students to help me.

Samaarth ,Anthonis and Charlotte in rotation helped me set up quickly and were very interested in my work.

Charlotte was instrumental in helping me manage the crowd.

Thank you for lending me such wonderful guys! They are an absolute credit to their grown ups.”

Shama Akram – Exhibitor

 

The final part of the programme took place back at Barnwell School, where I joined the students for a debrief session. This was an important opportunity to reflect on the experience and reinforce their learning. We discussed what went well and, just as importantly, what could have been done even better. The students were open and thoughtful in their reflections, and it was encouraging to see how clearly they had understood the principles of project management.

They shared valuable insights about communication, planning, and flexibility. We also discussed ideas for improving future events, including ways to manage arrivals more effectively and enhance the experience for attending students. Their suggestions were practical and well considered, demonstrating how much they had taken from the experience.

Investigate and Explore

This project is a strong example of how meaningful employer engagement can support young people in developing both skills and confidence. It also highlights the value of equalex in action, giving students from different year groups the opportunity to work together and experience a professional environment. By taking part in a real project, they gained a deeper understanding of what a career in project management could look like, as well as the skills required to succeed. Also a chance to network with employers at the event gave them exposure to more local labour market information in line with Gatsby Benchmark 4.

 

 

 

 

From my perspective, it was a genuinely rewarding experience to work with such an engaged and capable group of students. They approached every stage of the programme with enthusiasm, and they should be very proud of their contribution. It is clear that opportunities like this can have a lasting impact, helping young people to broaden their horizons and build confidence in their abilities.

Overall, this experience demonstrated the power of combining structured learning with practical experience. By linking classroom concepts to a real event, the students were able to see the relevance of what they were learning and apply it in a meaningful way. The success of this project provides a strong foundation for continuing this type of collaboration in the future.