Reed Wellbeing partnered with Futures for All to deliver a three-day virtual work experience programme for 12 young people aged 14–16. The placement introduced participants to Reed Wellbeing—our divisions, services, and the work we do to support communities to lead healthier, happier lives.
A highly rated experience
Feedback from the young people was overwhelmingly positive:
When asked to describe the placement, the top chosen words were:
Insightful career talks and real-world learning
Across the three days, young people heard from colleagues across Reed Wellbeing, showcasing the breadth of careers available.
A highlight of the programme was a guest session with Nick Hughes, Divisional Director for Reed Wellbeing. Nick shared insights into how the division works, its future ambitions, and his own personal career journey.
Attendees valued hearing about different paths, including unexpected career pivots and professional development.
My favourite thing was finding out about all the different career options within wellbeing, hearing the stories of how certain Reed ambassadors got to where they are now was very insightful.
Danni Duric, Senior Continuous Improvement Manager said:
I really enjoyed presenting my career journey. It was a great chance to reflect on my own journey and share experiences I’m proud of, with the hope they could offer valuable lessons to young people. Including a ‘day in the life’ helped show the diversity of my role and the skills I use every day. It was a very rewarding experience, and I would love the opportunity to get involved again. The young people were a delight to engage with!
Creating wellbeing initiatives for young people
Participants were challenged to design a new wellbeing initiative aimed at supporting young people. Three innovative ideas were presented, demonstrating creativity and a strong understanding of wellbeing needs. Our teams were impressed by the quality of work and confidence shown during presentations.
The best thing for me was getting to meet new people that are in the same position as myself and getting to work together with them as a team and be able to socialize.
A successful and meaningful experience
Overall, the programme was a great success. Young people left feeling inspired, empowered, and more aware of opportunities within health, wellbeing, and employability sectors.
I loved the CV building workshop; I'll be updating my CV soon and implementing many of these ideas.
Charlotte Gray, Social Values Senior Executive, who organised and led on the initiative said:
Our three-day virtual experience was a valuable opportunity to support and inspire young people, and it was a privilege to be part of it. All the young people engaged consistently throughout, demonstrating maturity, curiosity and confidence. The quality of their questions and the exceptional standard of the presentations delivered on the final day were particularly impressive, especially given the virtual format. This initiative reflects our ongoing dedication to supporting young people's aspirations, strengthening communities, and creating meaningful and sustainable social value. At Reed Wellbeing, social value remains fundamental to our mission, guiding the way we work, the partnerships we build, and the impact we strive to achieve. Thank you to Futures for All for supporting the setup of our experience and thank you to the young people who attended and gave their time and energy over the three days.