London Intern 25 Launch Day In Pictures
On Friday 14th March, Wiseup joined forces with Kantar, IBM, Efficio, Hays, Blackbullion, Chain IQ, Birlasoft and Kyndryl for the launch of London Intern 25 – a transformative programme combining mentoring with hands-on work experience within each company’s offices.
The launch event, held at Kantar’s offices, marked the beginning of an exciting journey for 55 students from four London schools, who met their mentors and embarked on their first mentoring session in breakout spots around Kantar’s open plan office space.
This official milestone represents the first of four mentoring sessions. The initial in person sessions will be followed by two more in person sessions on the work experience week in May, along with a follow up session in September.
Read on to find out how the students found the experience and to learn more about this game-changing initiative.
London Intern 25 in a snapshot
London Intern 25 is designed to provide 16–17 year olds with invaluable insight into professional environments. The initiative involves 1-2-1 mentoring strategically leading up to a week-long placement at one of the participating companies: Kantar, IBM, Efficio, Hays, Blackbullion, Chain IQ, Birlasoft and Kyndryl.
Through mentorship and practical experience, students will build key skills, create meaningful connections, and develop the confidence to navigate working environments. For many of these young people, this will be their first window into the world of work, and we’re confident that the businesses and mentors involved will make it an experience to remember.
Wiseup Networks is honoured to facilitate the mentoring aspect of this initiative, ensuring each student is matched with a mentor aligned with their aspirations and interests in order to maximise their time on the programme. As well as this, there will be ample opportunities for the students to meet with other team members and departments to explore other potential career avenues.
We’ve seen firsthand in previous programmes how this can be instrumental in shaping the lives of the students, with one particular student identifying a new and exciting career path in business law, thanks to a meeting arranged by their mentor with this department.
A Look Into The Launch Event
Students joined us from South Bank University Academy, Sedge Hill Academy, St John’s Baptist School, and Harris Academy Westminster in two separate slots in the morning and afternoon with enthusiasm and excitement.
Once at Kantar’s offices, the event commenced with an introduction from Kantar’s Programme Leads, Steve Day and Esme Kilsby, who highlighted the incredible opportunities awaiting the students. Next, Wiseup team members, Joe Wood and Tom Lewis briefed the students on what to expect from the mentoring element of the programme.
Following this, students had the chance to learn more about their mentors' companies, setting the stage for the highly anticipated 1-2-1 mentoring sessions. By this point, the energy in the room was clear, as the students showed an eagerness to take part and learn.
Next on the agenda, was the long-awaited initial mentoring sessions. It was fantastic to see the mentors confidently lead their sessions, applying insights developed from their mentor training workshop earlier in March.
As the initial chats got underway, the buzz in the room created a positive atmosphere, setting the stage for what is to come over the coming weeks and months.
As can be seen in the images of the day, the initial connections from today have given the students fresh inspiration and energy for this exciting time in their lives.
Looking Ahead towards meaningful change
The importance of London Intern 25 cannot be overstated. Initial feedback from the students and schools includes “XYZ”.
Additionally, the mentors feel just as enthusiastic, with Bob commenting “XYZ”.
Wiseup is incredibly proud to play a role in this initiative, working alongside a cohort of visionary businesses who see true value in supporting the next generation. London Intern 25 provides students with the experience, guidance, and confidence they need to succeed and we’re confident that this year’s cohort will thrive as a result. We can’t wait to share the impact of this programme as we go.
In total, we had 120 people participating in the day whether they were a student, teacher, or mentor, who all made the day flow as smoothly as possible! What a day!
