This July, 20 Year 12 students took part in the ORT JUMP Alternative Work Experience Week 2025.
The teens from 10 different London schools, worked together to develop employability skills, under the guidance of professionals.
At the start of the week, the students were split into groups to visit a workplace related to sustainability, healthcare, property or marketing. Here they were set a team challenge by an industry expert, which was to be presented back to them at the end of the week.
Once reunited with the rest of their peers at a central office, the groups worked on their projects. They also took part in workshops in a range of skills from presenting, to Python coding to embracing AI. In addition, the ORT UK marketing team set a creative challenge and staff and trustees joined them for a networking lunch.
On the final day, the students impressed the experts with their PowerPoint presentations as well as pitching their social media campaigns advertising the ORT JUMP Alternative Work Experience Week 2026!
Over the course of the week the students developed a huge range of employability skills including teamwork, researching, problem solving, critical thinking, presenting and many more. All in an inclusive, respectful and professional environment.
Julie Cohen, the ORT JUMP Employability Skills Programme Leader said:
“The participants on the ORT JUMP Alternative Work Experience Week 2025 were truly exceptional. I’m so proud of them for approaching every challenge with enthusiasm and collaborating brilliantly with peers they had just met. Huge thanks to the outstanding professionals who supported and challenged them throughout, your contribution made a real difference. These young people certainly have such bright futures ahead – very well done to them all!”
