New careers programme uses Liverpool female role models to show girls what they can achieve

Fashion designer Kirsty Doyle has created a new careers programme for schools using Liverpool female role models to show girls what they can achieve.

The Work Xp will put a spotlight on women working in all kinds of different industries including creative, hospitality and catering, and STEM careers such as architecture and engineering.

By going out into businesses to do interviews and capture workplaces on video, Work Xp aims to give girls as young as 10 a taste of what their future careers could look like.

Kirsty, who founded the KD Club to encourage future talent, says it’s important that they see what’s possible.

She explains:

“The Work Xp has come from speaking to young people in every different type of education.  Some were lacking aspirations or female role models they could relate to.

“I thought, what could I do? You look at other platforms doing career programmes and it might be a 45-year-old man talking about investment banking in London but that could be a world away for a kid in Kirkdale. We need to look at things differently.

“The Work Xp is about inspiring girls to choose the career paths they feel genuinely most interested in and showing them what’s available to them in Liverpool. 

“Beyond social media, let them see some real people doing amazing things in the city so they realise one day they could grow up to be them.

“We also want to educate our boys and show them this is what the modern workplace looks like, with women in leading roles.”

Kirsty has launched a pilot for the programme with 450 students from primary and secondary schools across Liverpool.

To promote it she’s collaborated with local photographer Matthew Doyle to capture six women in six industries, showcasing the women behind successful small businesses and those who are leading in their sectors.

“One of the things that’s come out of this is shining a light on micro businesses, where owners maybe haven’t got the time to have students in on work experience or go and speak in assemblies, but they’d love to share some their knowledge and insight into their world. That’s where I come in.

“I do an interview with them and film a workplace tour and then hundreds of kids can see inside the business. It’s helping businesses to shout about how fantastic they are and also letting young people think, actually, I could be a florist or a firefighter, a dentist or a PT.

“This is a scalable digital programme that schools are signing up to, so students watch one hour per month and that takes them inside those different industries. 

“Then I’m really encouraging students to give me their feedback, because I want the pilot to work with a student voice. 

“I want students to say, ‘I’d really love to be …’ and I will go and look for what they’re interested in, from AI robotics to beauty brands.

“From there it will grow to a full online careers library so it becomes an accessible form of modern careers education that young people can access within the safety of the classroom.”

Kirsty plans to roll out The Work Xp programme nationally eventually, and she wants it to reach a wider age range than what’s currently on offer.

“Traditionally work experience has been for years 7-10 in secondary schools, but I’m going into years 5 & 6 in primary schools too which is quite innovative,” she says.

“These kids are capable and we shouldn’t underestimate how engaged they are and how they’re already thinking about their future. I know that through the workshops I do in schools – they’re like little sponges so let’s get them thinking and dreaming while they’re young.”

Find out more about KD Club here.

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