Talent Tasters
Tasters allow our young people to find, grow and use their talents and skills. Sparking aspirations through inspiration.
What Is A Talent Taster?
You have something amazing to offer an extraordinary group of young people: your experience, your skill and your enthusiasm for your job. By becoming a Talent Taster partner, you can change lives and help young people find their talent!
Talent Tasters are a chance for young people to try out a job, college, or university in manageable, bite-sized sessions. The average taster is just two to three hours long. They are designed to engage and inspire the younger generation with hands-on learning experiences and raise their aspirations for a brighter future. They’re also more sustainable and effective than traditional work experience both for the young people and for the organisations delivering.
We’ll work shoulder-to-shoulder with your business to help design, develop and deliver the best Talent Taster sessions. We’ve already had more than 50 organisations, with 5 to 5,000 employees, across multiple sectors, deliver tasters for over 200 different jobs.
The Talent Taster you deliver could be a life changing experience for our young people. It could be the moment they realise ‘I could do this!’
How It Works
Here’s a brief guide to how Talent Tasters typically work:
Age 13 – 16
Talent Tasters focus on young people, aged 13 – 16.
3 Hours
Typical length is around three hours.
16 Industries
Our programme offers Talent Tasters across 16 industries
Hands-on Experience
Focus is hands-on experience and fun.
Expertise
Delivered by someone who really knows their stuff.
If you’re interested in supporting Talent Tasters, please get in touch.
Talent Tasters Work
We’ve delivered more than one hundred tasters covering 16 distinct industries in the last year. There are so many stories, so many sparks of future careers created.
One young man found a talent for joinery and carpentry after a three hour Talent Taster at City Building. His attendance at school dramatically improved and he’s now working towards gaining the qualifications he needs to get an apprenticeship.
Another young woman attended our Paramedic Talent Taster at the Ambulance Academy. She found she had what it takes to be a great paramedic and she’s working towards applying for the Academy.
These experiences inspire and the numbers speak for themselves. 79% of MCR’s mentored young people stayed on at school beyond 4th year in the last school year, in contrast to just 36% of Scotland’s care experienced young people. Critically, 86% of our young people secured a positive post-school destination (college, university or employment), compared to 48.8% when we started.
I enjoyed interviewing the solicitor and the paralegal because it gave me an insight into what a career in law is like. I enjoyed all of it, we got through a lot in the time we had.
Young Person
Introduction to Law Talent Taster
I didn't have the best time at school myself, so I wanted to share my experience to reassure (the young people) that there are choices out there and great opportunities in the energy industry.
Tony Stirling
Apprentice Development Officer, SSE
Brilliant session, I didn't think it would be this good. I think I know what I want to do now - I absolutely loved it!
Young Person
Fabric Design Talent Taster
What's In It For My Company?
By hosting Talent Tasters, your passionate and caring organisation will support your communities. Employers share their work and employment opportunities to spark interest and aspirations in youngsters. But they also offer much more for staff in:
Enhanced Training & Coaching Opportunities
Improved Staff Morale & Motivation
Priceless Insight Into Your Future Customers & Workforce
Vital Evidence For Accreditation & Awards
Team Building & Fun
A Source of Loyal & Informed Future Talent
Talent Taster Industries
We’ve organised Talent Tasters in these sectors, and more:
Admin & Secretarial
Beauty & Hairdressing
Care Services
Charities
Construction & Trades
Creative Industries
Customer Services
Engineering
Food & Drink
IT & Technology
Lawyers & Accountants
Medical & Dental
Public Services
Retail & Sales
Sports & Fitness
Travel & Tourism
News From Our Talent Tasters
