Using Employer Partnerships and Student Feedback to Strengthen Careers Education – Watling Academy
June 26, 2026
At Watling Academy, we are committed to providing meaningful employer encounters that help students develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to succeed in their future careers.
As part of our careers programme, we have developed a strong partnership with Scania Group, giving Year 12 students the opportunity to engage directly with industry professionals and gain valuable insight into the world of work.
Over two employer engagement visits this year, students participated in a range of interactive workshops focused on:
- CV writing and personal branding
- Interview preparation and techniques
- Understanding employer expectations
- Identifying and communicating transferable skills
- Exploring career pathways within a global organisation
- Teamwork, communication, and problem-solving activities
Students were treated as young professionals throughout the programme, encouraging them to think seriously about their future career aspirations and the steps needed to achieve them.
Why Student Feedback Matters
A key part of our careers programme is evaluation. We believe that collecting and analysing student feedback is essential to understanding the impact of our activities and ensuring that future opportunities meet the needs of our learners.
Following the most recent Scania programme, students reported:
100% would recommend the programme to other students
100% rated the experience as excellent
100% found the CV workshop useful or very useful
92% reported increased confidence in interviews
83% said the programme helped them develop employability skills
83% gained a better understanding of career opportunities available within Scania
Perhaps the most encouraging feedback came from students who requested longer sessions. This demonstrated not only strong engagement but also a genuine desire to learn more about careers, employability, and industry opportunities.
Impact on Students
The programme helped students connect their education to real career pathways and understand the importance of preparation, mindset and professional skills.
Through direct interaction with employers, students developed greater confidence, increased awareness of career opportunities and a clearer understanding of what employers look for when recruiting future talent.
Key Learning
Our key learning from this experience is simple:
Employer engagement is most effective when it is purposeful, collaborative, and supported, underpinned by robust evaluation.
By listening to student voices and working closely with employers, schools can create meaningful experiences that build confidence, raise aspirations and prepare young people for successful futures.
Through partnerships such as this, we can ensure that students leave education with stronger employability skills, greater career awareness, and the confidence to pursue a wide range of opportunities, including apprenticeships, technical pathways, higher education, and employment.
“The session helped me understand what employers are really looking for and made me feel much more confident about interviews and applying for jobs in the future.” Year 12 Student
“The CV workshop was one of the most useful parts of the programme. It helped me understand what employers are looking for and how to present my skills and experiences more effectively.” Year 12 Student
