Young Careers at L'Oréal

Our Young Careers service facilitated an excellent employer visit for pupils from partner schools Sir Alec Reed Academy and Nightingale Academy to the L’Oréal UK headquarters in Hammersmith.

More than 20 students who had expressed an interest in sector-relevant careers were invited to the day-long event. In the morning they received a presentation from the L’Oréal l team, including an in-house scientist on how the subject guides the company’s work. In the afternoon, students were split into mixed-school groups to work together on developing a new shampoo product. The five teams were asked to pitch their concept to a judging panel that included Reed in Partnership’s London Operations Director Nick Morgan.

The event enable students to experience first-hand the culture and business of L’Oréal and working in the beauty industry, as well as receiving relevant careers advice and guidance. Kat from the Sir Alec Reed Academy said:

“I really liked it. It was a great experience - something new and exciting. I got lots of good advice.”

Her friend Mahak added: “I thought it was really beneficial. I got to see what real work and a real office looks like.”

The winning pitch was for a new L’Oréal brand concept that would use all natural ingredients to offer greater UV protection to consumers in warm climates.

Young Careers will be facilitating many more employer-led interventions with schools in West London in the coming months. Other employers involved in the delivery of the service include Instagram, Virgin Active, Addison Lee and The Army.

The service is a pilot commissioned by the Skills Funding Agency to help develop a new approach to careers advice in schools. It enables students to get closer to employers and higher education institutes and benefit from more relevant careers guidance. It is co-funded by the European Social Fund.