Only 15% of students said that access to workplace experience would help them ‘make up for lost time due to the pandemic’. However, 37% of business leaders think that access to workplace experience will help young people recover from the effects of the pandemic. There is a disconnect here. Counselling/mental health support (21%), more personal tutoring (21%) and participation in sports (20%) are at the top of young people’s lists in terms of post-pandemic priorities. While all of the above are indeed very important for young people’s mental, physical and academic wellbeing, it could be argued that there’s a need to stress the importance of pursuing career-progression opportunities via work experience that are available to them thanks to initiatives such as virtual work experience. This is where charities such as Speakers for School can play an important role, especially as there appears to be a lack of consensus within the business community as to who holds the responsibility to help young people get their ca

1. Speakers for Schools
Poll of MPs, business
& young people
May - June 2021
10th June 2021

2. An overview of the
research methodology
2
What? 10-12 minute online quantitative survey
Who?
100 x Members of Parliament
100 x Business leaders
2,113 x Young people (aged 11-19)
Where? UK
When? 21st May – 4rd June 2021

3. MP’S

4. 87% 12%
88% 12%
91% 9%
In general, how well or poorly do you think you understand the needs, hopes and aspirations of young people (i.e. those
aged 18 and younger) in the UK?
Around nine-tenths of MPs say they understand the needs, hopes and
aspirations of young people in the UK
Base: 100 MPs, 50 Conservative, 32 Labour
26%
12%
15%
65%
76%
72%
6%
12%
11%
3%
Labour
Conservative
Total
Very well Quite well Quite poorly Very poorly Don't know
Net:
Well
Net:
Poorly

5. 82% 100%
84% 90%
83% 92%
49% 72%
43% 76%
40% 64%
37% 48%
36% 53%
23% 29%
- 4%
2% -
And how, if at all, do you hear about the needs, hopes and aspirations of young people in society? Please
select all that apply.
Over four-fifths of MPs hear about the needs, hopes and aspirations of
young people from constituent contact, personal relationships or
schools
Conservative Labour
1%
1%
27%
41%
42%
51%
54%
57%
84%
84%
86%
Don't know
Other
Parliamentary briefings
News reporting
Local events
Social media
From other organisations
Local organisations
From schools / educational institutions
Personal relationships
Direct contact with constituents
Base: 100 MPs, 50 Conservative, 32 Labour

6. 62% 70%
45% 30%
41% 32%
41% 19%
23% 47%
25% 27%
12% 32%
18% 19%
- 9%
1% -
Now, thinking about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people in the UK. Which of the
following, if any, do you think would best help young people to recover from the effects of the pandemic?
Both Conservative and Labour MPs believe that more personal tutoring
is the most effective way to help young people recover from the effects
of the pandemic – with work experience coming second
Conservative Labour
1%
4%
18%
23%
24%
31%
35%
36%
37%
65%
Don't know
Other
Being able to provide a service to their communities
Increased participation in the arts
Summer school
Other academic support
Increased time in the classroom
Increased participation in sports
Access to workplace experience
More personal tutoring for those left behind
Base: 100 MPs, 50 Conservative, 32 Labour

7. 95% 5%
91% 9%
100% 0%
How significant an impact, if at all, do you think the COVID-19 pandemic has had on young people?
Around three-quarters of MPs recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic
has had a significant impact on young people
Base: 100 MPs, 50 Conservative, 32 Labour
91%
64%
73%
9%
28%
22%
9%
5%
Labour
Conservative
Total
Significant impact Moderate impact Limited impact No impact Don't know
Net:
Significant
+ Moderate
Net:
Limited
+ None

8. Do you believe government support is or is not needed to help young people make up for time lost during
the COVID-19 pandemic?
Nine-tenths of MPs believe government support is needed to help
young people make up for lost time during the pandemic
Base: 100 MPs, 50 Conservative, 32 Labour
7%
12%
90%
83%
100%
Total Conservative Labour
Government support is needed
Government support is not needed
Don’t know
All Labour MPs say
government support is
needed

9. BUSINESS
LEADERS

10. 67% 31%
In general, how well or poorly do you think you understand the needs, hopes and aspirations of young people (i.e. those
aged 18 and younger) in the UK?
Two-thirds of business leaders say they are confident they understand
the needs, hopes and aspirations of young people in the UK
Base: 100 business leaders
17% 50% 27% 4%
Total
Very confident Quite confident Not very confident Not at all confident Don't know
Net:
Confident
Net: Not
confident

11. How, if at all, do you hear about the needs, hopes and aspirations of young people in society in general?
Please select all that apply.
Business leaders are most likely to hear about the needs of young
people in general through personal relationships
Base: 100 business leaders
1%
2%
1%
17%
20%
21%
38%
42%
45%
50%
66%
Don't know
None of the above
Other
Local events
From other organisations (e.g. children's charities, businesses)
Local organisations
From schools / educational institutions
Social media
Direct contact with young employees
News reporting
Personal relationships (e.g. my own children, family and friends)

12. And how, if at all, do you hear about the needs, hopes and aspirations of young people as they relate to
your business? Please select all that apply.
In terms of hearing about the needs of young people in relation to their
business, leaders are most likely to hear through direct contact with
young employees
Base: 100 business leaders
3%
11%
4%
13%
15%
21%
30%
30%
32%
45%
57%
Don't know
None of the above
Other
Local events
Local organisations
From other organisations (e.g. children's charities, businesses)
News reporting
Social media
From schools / educational institutions
Personal relationships (e.g. my own children, family and friends)
Direct contact with young employees

13. Now, thinking about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people in the UK. Which of the
following, if any, do you think would best help young people to recover from the effects of the pandemic?
Over a third of business leaders believe the best way to help young
people recover from the pandemic are workplace experience, summer
school, time in the classroom and tutoring
Base: 100 business leaders
6%
3%
3%
20%
20%
29%
29%
34%
35%
36%
37%
Don't know
None of the above
Other
Other academic support
Being able to provide a service or volunteer in their communities
Increased participation in sports
Increased participation in the arts (e.g. drama, music)
More personal tutoring for those left behind
Increased time in the classroom
Summer school
Access to workplace experience

14. 91% 9%
In general, how well or poorly do you think you understand the needs, hopes and aspirations of young
people (i.e. those aged 18 and younger) in the UK?
Nine-tenths of business leaders believe the pandemic has had at least
a moderate impact on young people, and over half think the impact has
been significant
Base: 100 business leaders
55% 36% 7%
Total
Significant impact Moderate impact Limited impact No impact Don't know
Net:
Significant
+ Moderate
Net:
Limited
+ None

15. 93% 7%
88% 12%
66% 34%
When thinking about helping young people make up for time lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, do how
much responsibility, if any, do you think each of the following groups have?
Business leaders believe the most responsibility for making up for lost
time lies with government
21%
59%
66%
45%
29%
27%
25%
10%
6%
9%
UK Businesses
Society in general
Government
Major responsibility Some responsibility Only a little No responsibility Don't know
Net:
Well
Net:
Poorly
Base: 100 business leaders

16. YOUNG PEOPLE

17. During the recent national lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which of the following, if any, did you
miss most?
Young people are by far most likely to say they have missed seeing
friends during the lockdown
Base: 2,113 Young people (aged 11-19) in UK
2%
3%
3%
4%
11%
11%
20%
25%
48%
48%
51%
77%
Don't know
Other
Being at work
Being able to volunteer / help my local community
Going to live sports events
Participating in arts (e.g. drama, music)
Going to live entertainment (e.g. gigs, theatre)
Participating in sports
Being in school / education
Going on holiday / travelling
Seeing family
Seeing friends
Around half also say they
have missed seeing family,
holidays and being in school

18. Now, thinking about the impact COVID-19 pandemic. Which of the following, if any, do you think would best
help you to make up for time lost due to the pandemic? Please select up to three.
Around a fifth of young people say tutoring, counselling, sports
participation and increased time in class would help make up for lost time
Base: 2,113 Young people (aged 11-19) in UK
24%
4%
5%
10%
13%
15%
15%
19%
20%
21%
21%
Don't know
Other
Being able to volunteer in my community
Summer school
Participation in the arts (e.g. drama, music)
Other academic support
Access to workplace experience
Increased time in the classroom
Participation in sports
Counselling / mental health support
More personal tutoring
A quarter of young people
say they do not know

19. By age group - what young people thought would help make up for
lost time
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Increased time in
the classroom
More personal
tutoring
Summer school Other academic
support
Being able to
volunteer in my
community
Participation in
sports
Participation in
the arts (e.g.
drama, music)
Access to
workplace
experience
Counselling /
mental health
support
Other Don't know
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20. 40% 18%
In general, how optimistic or pessimistic do you feel about your job prospects and career post education?
Two-fifths of young people say they are optimistic about their career
post-education, although a fifth say they are pessimistic
7% 34% 30% 15% 4% 11%
Total
Extremely optimistic Quite optimistic Neither optimistic nor pessimistic
Quite pessimistic Extremely pessimistic Don't know
Net:
Optimistic
Net:
Pessimistic
Base: 2,113 Young people (aged 11-19) in UK

21. When thinking about your future career, which of the following, if any, do you think would be most helpful in
improving your confidence? Please select all that apply.
Young people view internships/work experience as the most helpful way
to improve their confidence in their future career prospects
Base: 2,113 Young people (aged 11-19) in UK
18%
1%
19%
25%
25%
29%
35%
42%
47%
Don't know
Other
Being able to engage with role models
CV workshops / support writing a CV
More entry-level roles
More access to careers advice
Interview practice / mock interviews
Being able to get a part time job
Internships / work experience in a relevant field

22. When thinking about your future career, which of the following, if any, do you think would be most helpful in
improving your confidence? Please select all that apply.
Young people view internships/work experience as the most helpful way
to improve their confidence in their future career prospects
Base: 2,113 Young people (aged 11-19) in UK

23. By age group – what would help increase confidence in your future
career
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Being able to get a part
time job
More access tocareers
advice
Internships / work
experience in a relevant
field
Interview practice / mock
interviews
More entry-level roles CV workshops / support
writing a CV
Being able to engage with
role models
Other
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

24. Which of the following, if any, do you think are the biggest barrier to success in your future career? Please
select all that apply.
Young people perceive the biggest barriers to success in their future
careers being not being able to secure relevant work experience and not
knowing what they would like to do
Base: 2,113 Young people (aged 11-19) in UK
39%
37%
28%
24% 23%
3%
14%
Not being able to get
relevant work
experience
Don't know what I
want to do
Lack of jobs in my
local area
Lack of entry level
jobs
Not knowing the
process of getting a
job
Other Don't know

25. In Wales and Northern Ireland, lack of jobs in the local area are
perceived to be the greatest barrier to future success by young
people.
Barriers by Region
Base: 2,113 Young people (aged 11-19) in UK

26. Now, thinking about work experience in the future. Which of the following, if any, do you think are most
important when getting work experience? Please select all that apply.
Over half of young people say that the most important things to consider
when getting work experience is that it is in a sector they are interested
in, and that they have a chance to learn essential skills
Base: 2,113 Young people (aged 11-19) in UK
12%
1%
17%
22%
24%
28%
34%
34%
45%
51%
53%
Don't know
Other
Chance to meet senior people
Interactive
Chance to meet young people in their early career
Chance to get feedback on my work
Chance to meet a range of people from different roles in the business.
Chance to connect my existing learning to the world of work
Chance to gain knowledge of the business
Chance to learn essential skills
In a sector I am interested in

27. When thinking about your future plans post school or college, which of the following, if any, are you
considering? Please select all that apply.
Over half of those surveyed say they plan to go to university post-
school or college
Base: 2,113 Young people (aged 11-19) in UK
56%
29%
23%
13%
10%
7%
2%
14%
University degree Getting a full-time
job
Apprenticeship Higher technical
skills course
Internship Starting a business Other Don't know

28. 23% 52%
11% 73%
In general, how well or poorly do you think [audience] understand the needs, hopes and aspirations of
young people in the UK like you?
The majority of young people believe businesses and politicians have a
poor understanding of their needs
10%
21%
34%
36%
39%
16%
16%
25%
Politicians
Businesses / organisational leaders
Very well Quite well Quite poorly Very poorly Don't know
Base: 2,113 Young people (aged 11-19) in UK
Net:
Well
Net:
Poorly
Almost three-quarters say politicians
have a poor understanding

29. Conclusions
• Youth voice.
• Young people are not positive about how leaders in society understand their needs.
• Business leaders are at risk of an echo chamber effect, only hearing from young people in
their immediate networks.
• Whilst politicians do say they hear from young people in their constituencies, issues for
young people vary in different parts of the country, and politicians need to hear from
young people across the country to understand the impact of their decisions.
• Work experience comes top for business leaders, second for MPs and top for young people
aged 15-19 as the key intervention that can help them make up for lost time. It is the most
important intervention identified by young people to help them increase confidence in their
future careers.
• Young people have given us a clear mandate for the type of work experience they want to see.
We need to offer a wide range of sectors, to allow young people to practice essential skills,
gain knowledge of the business, connect their existing learning to the placement, and meet a
range of people from the business.