A hands-on careers programme for schools

Try a Trade is a unique careers day experience, working in UK schools and aiming to inspire a new generation of young people about the incredible apprenticeship and career opportunities in trades like plumbing, electrics and carpentry.

About Try a Trade

We’re helping students in Years 10 and 11 to discover more about careers in the trades, through experiential learning sessions, hands-on activities, and first-hand access to people already working in a trade.

Try a Trade careers days, powered by Checkatrade, are aiming to help plug a national trade skills gap of almost ONE MILLION workers over the next decade, by connecting young people with a world of limitless possibilities in a trades career.

What to expect

A Try a Trade careers day aims to break down barriers to access in the trade industry, and open young people’s minds to the earning power and potential of life as a tradesperson.

Inspiring hands-on workshops

Careers fairs for schools can often be bland and uninspiring, and that’s why Try a Trade is so different.

We’re supporting schools and school careers advisers to explore new and exciting ways to inspire young people in years 10 and 11 about vocational qualifications and trades apprenticeships – because academic routes don’t suit everyone. We’ll provide the resources and role models to help get students work-ready, connecting them directly with champions of industry and fantastic trade employers aiming to find their next great trade talents.

For employers, we connect them to young people who are motivated to start a new trade career – helping them find their next ambitious new superstar trade apprentice.

For secondary schools

For employers

About Apprenticeships Employers

How to get involved?

How can schools book Try a Trade?

If you’re a school, you can easily get in touch to find out more, or book your next careers day with us.

Wherever you’re based in the UK, start that journey now and you could bring your careers days to life in a new and exciting way.

It’s easy! Complete the form and we’ll be in touch to arrange everything you need to bring Try a Trade to your school.

For businesses

If you’re an employer and want to inspire the next generation, we’d love to hear from you too. We’re always on the lookout for tradespeople and trades businesses that want to give back.

Many trades leaders were inspired by someone special in their own lives – and you could be that person for many more young people: The UK’s next generation of trades talent.

Simply complete the form and we’ll be in touch with all the details.

Get our flyer

If you’d like to share information about the careers programme in your school
or in your business, simply download our flyer.

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