Key insights from the Future Skills Questionnaire

At Rise, we’re passionate about empowering young people to succeed in the rapidly changing world of work. We believe that every young person deserves access to the resources and support they need to develop the skills and confidence to thrive in their chosen career.

A recent report by The Careers & Enterprise Company, titled “Insight briefing: Student career readiness in 2023/24”, has provided valuable insights into the career aspirations and readiness of young people in England. The report, based on the Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ) completed by nearly a quarter of a million students, highlights several key findings that are relevant to our work at Rise.

Key insights from the Future Skills Questionnaire

1. High Interest in Critical Sectors: Young people are showing a strong interest in critical sectors such as construction, digital, and health. This presents an opportunity for organisations in those sectors to partner with Rise and share targeted career guidance at our skills development workshops and provide top tips to help them pursue their career goals in these sectors.

2. Increased Career Readiness Near Transition Points: The report found that young people feel more career ready as they approach key transition points, such as Year 11. This suggests that they are more receptive to career guidance and support during these times. Rise capitalises on this by escalating outreach efforts and providing timely guidance to students prior to these critical points. We offer free autonomous classroom resources, aligned with the universal Skills Builder framework, they combine subject matter with their related career paths.

3. Need for Essential Skills Development: While young people generally feel confident in most work-related skills, they rate themselves lower on speaking, listening, leadership, and teamwork. Rise plays a crucial role in bridging these skills gaps with our in-person workshops which focus on developing and reflecting on these exact skills, supported by our fantastic network of volunteers. Moreover, our online resources and interactive tools to make this learning consistent and accessible to an ever-growing number of students.

Rise’s commitment to young people

We are committed to using these insights to further embolden our vision of equipping the hardest to reach young people with the skills they need to succeed in life and work. We believe that by understanding the needs and aspirations of young people, we can better support them in achieving their career goals. Our services are designed to be engaging, relevant, and impactful, equipping young people with the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the future of work.

We are excited to continue working with young people, schools and employers to create a more equitable and meritocratic future for all.