Overview

65 students > w/ The City of Liverpool College > pathways = Uniform Services & Academic Studies > £15.6k social value > 100% business buddy recommended > 97% students benefited > 95% developed new skills

Overview

The Spring 2026 PoWEr Pack Programme, delivered by We Are PoWEr through PoWEr Collective CIC in partnership with The City of Liverpool College, brought together 65 students from Uniform Services and Academic Studies for an immersive employability and personal development experience designed to bridge the gap between education and the world of work.

Built around the Gatsby Benchmarks and real-world employer engagement, the programme embedded industry directly into the student experience through challenge-based learning, teamwork, mentoring and live professional environments.

Students worked alongside professionals from partner organisations to help them build confidence, communication skills, resilience and professional networks while increasing awareness of future career pathways.

Programme Objectives

PoWEr Pack was designed to complement the curriculum and move students beyond traditional classroom learning.

Across the programme, students participated in:

• Team-building and leadership activities
• Industry-led workshops and mentoring
• Real-world challenge briefs
• Communication and presentation coaching
• Collaborative problem-solving exercises
• Live showcase preparation

The programme focused on creating high-support, high-challenge environments where students could develop confidence by stepping outside of their comfort zones.

Business buddies, facilitators and guest speakers worked closely with students throughout the programme, giving them direct exposure to professional expectations, career insight and workplace behaviours.

Supporting organisations included: Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, Tetra Tech, Weightmans LLP, Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army, BAE (and more)

The Showcase and Graduation Celebration

The programme finished in a live Showcase and graduation celebration held at the college’s LEX Atrium on 30 April 2026. Attended by more than 100 guests, students presented responses to real-world challenges through presentations, debates, role play, spoken word and creative performances — demonstrating confidence, professionalism and authenticity.

The event celebrated not only the students’ final presentations, but also their personal growth, teamwork and graduation from the programme.

The judging panel included:

• Gemma Marsh - Deputy CEO, Skills England
• Irene Afful - Director, Ametrine Solution
• Major Joe Collins - British Army
• Claire Blott - Assistant Director of Strategy and Policy, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
• Simone Roche MBE - CEO and Founder, We Are PoWEr

Impact and Outcomes

The Spring 2026 PoWEr Pack Programme delivered exceptionally strong impact results across confidence, communication and employability development.

Post-programme feedback demonstrated measurable growth in student confidence and engagement:

99% student attendance (nonmandatory)

100% business buddies had a positive experience, felt it was valuable and would recommend to someone else

97% of students reported benefiting from the programme overall

95% developed new skills and feel more confident (originally 58% pre-programme)

£15.6k of measured social value was generated through the programme

Students consistently highlighted the value of:

• Working alongside industry professionals
• Participating in interactive activities and debates
• Developing confidence outside of the classroom
• Building communication and teamwork skills
• Experiencing real-world professional scenarios
• The programme successfully supported students to:
• Increase confidence and self-belief
• Improve communication and presentation skills
• Develop workplace awareness and employability skills
• Build professional networks and industry connections
• Gain exposure to future career pathways
• Strengthen resilience, teamwork and adaptability

Strategic Value

PoWEr Pack demonstrated the value of meaningful partnership working between education and industry.

By combining curriculum learning with employer engagement and experiential development, the programme strengthened future workforce readiness while supporting social mobility, aspiration and inclusive access to opportunity.

The programme reinforced The City of Liverpool College’s commitment to innovation, employability and preparing students with the skills, confidence and experiences needed to thrive in the future world of work.

Looking Ahead

Following the success of the Spring 2026 programme, We Are PoWEr and PoWEr Collective CIC continue to expand the PoWEr Pack model to support more young people across the region.

The programme continues to create meaningful pathways between education and industry while equipping students with the confidence, skills and networks needed for long-term progression.

Sample press coverage

Birkenhead News

Good News Liverpool

About We Are PoWEr

We Are PoWEr is an inclusive movement dedicated to advancing gender equality, social mobility and diversity by connecting people and organisations through knowledge, recognition, events and development opportunities.

PoWEr Collective CIC, part of We Are PoWEr, focuses on increasing social mobility through mentoring, employability and challenge-based programmes that create meaningful opportunities for young people and communities.