Win the work experience of a lifetime with LifeSkills

Travel to Facebook HQ in California and learn what it takes to run the social network; run a Barclays Premier League Football Club with Karren Brady; become a broadcast presenter with Jameela Jamil; shadow a Barclays Premier League manager; and learn how to launch a product with Thea Green, Founder of Nails Inc.

14 to 19 year olds have the chance to win the Work Experience of a Lifetime including the opportunity to hone their skills at Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California.

Launched today by LifeSkills Ambassadors Karren Brady, Jameela Jamil and Thea Green, the competition will offer prizes that include once in a lifetime opportunities to learn from some of the most successful leaders in business, media and sports globally. Prizes include:

- Win a trip to Facebook HQ in California to learn their leadership team’s secrets of success
- Shadow a manager of a Barclays Premier League football club
- Work with Karren Brady, Vice Chairman of West Ham United Football Club
- Spend a day with Jameela Jamil to learn how to become a broadcast presenter
- Develop the confidence to run your own business with Thea Green, founder of Nails Inc.
- Produce a broadcast package with a film crew from ITN Productions


The competition is part of LifeSkills, created with Barclays, a curriculum linked programme that aims by 2015 to equip one million young people with the skills they need for work and connect them with work experience opportunities.

The goal is to provide 50,000 work experience opportunities this year alone, with free LifeSkills resources available to download from today www.barclayslifeskills.com.

Over a thousand teachers, and over a hundred leading businesses including McDonalds, Centrica, ISS and Waitrose, as well as many smaller businesses, have already joined the LifeSkills programme.

To enter the Work Experience of a Lifetime competition people aged between 14 and 19 should go to Facebook.com/yourlifeskills and complete the simple registration. The competition closes on Wednesday 15 May with the majority of prizes taking place during LifeSkills Work Week starting on Monday 17 June 2013. Dedicated to promoting work experience during LifeSkills Work Week there will be nationwide events to help teachers connect with businesses across the UK.

Senior Executives from Barclays including Group Chief Executive Antony Jenkins and Retail and Business Banking Chief Executive Ashok Vaswani will also be offering work experience and insights for young people during Work Week the programme, along with other leading businesses.

LifeSkills Ambassador, Karren Brady, said: “I couldn’t have got to where I am today without the work experiences I had early on in my career. They taught me what I was good at and the skills I needed to get ahead. It’s why I’m excited to be launching the Work Experience of a Lifetime competition today so that young people can access amazing opportunities to learn from some of the most successful people in business. They’ll find out what it takes to do well at work and I hope be inspired with what they could do in the future. For me, it brings home why every business should get involved in offering work experience through the LifeSkills programme because by doing so they’ll create opportunities to transform what young people go onto achieve.”

LifeSkills Ambassador, Jameela Jamil, said: “I don’t believe anybody has a set career path or will be guaranteed to be successful in what they choose. It takes hard work and determination, but it begins with the chance to find out what work is like, what you’re good at and how to get into a job you’ll love. This is why work experience is vital, and why I want everyone to enter the Work Experience of a Lifetime competition. It’s your chance to learn from people who are experienced in what they do, including how to be a presenter like me.”

LifeSkills Ambassador, Thea Green, said: “Offering work experience is the best way for businesses to help young people understand the world of work first hand and build the confidence and skills needed to succeed in whatever career they choose. Through the competition I’m looking forward to offering a future entrepreneur insights into the hard work, discipline and creativity that it takes to build a successful brand, and also the immense satisfaction that running your own business can bring.”

Ashok Vaswani, Chief Executive, Barclays Retail and Business Banking said: “Too many young people in the UK don’t have access to the skills or opportunities they need to realise their potential when they leave school. Businesses, schools and families need to work together so that the next generation have the support they need to get ahead. That is why we have launched LifeSkills to provide free resources and connect young people with work experience opportunities that will transform their outlook and confidence for the future. Through this exciting competition many young people will be offered Work Experience of a Lifetime and many more will gain valuable experience to learn from some of the most successful leaders in business.”

From today, the interactive LifeSkills website is live with dedicated areas for young people, teachers and businesses. Once registered, free resources can be downloaded including top tips from the LifeSkills Ambassadors and guides to how to get the most from work experience. The non-branded lesson plans for teachers and resources for young people address three areas: Work Skills, People Skills and Money Skills.

The resources will be delivered in school by teachers, in branch at sessions organised by Barclays employees or accessed directly by young people at www.barclayslifeskills.com. Barclays is offering the support of 38,000 volunteers over the three years.

Once a student completes the LifeSkills modules, schools will be able to unlock a new work experience matching portal. This will allow teachers to match pupils to local work experience opportunities in their area from Barclays and like-minded businesses. Business can also upload their placements via the new free matching service.

To find out more and register for information go to www.barclayslifeskills.com

Notes to Editors:

About LifeSkills, created with Barclays

LifeSkills, created with Barclays, is an education programme that aims by 2015 to equip one million young people aged 11-19 with the skills they need for work and connect young people to work experience opportunities at Barclays and beyond. LifeSkills builds on the success of the Barclays Money Skills programme and the Barclays Apprenticeship Programme.

LifeSkills provides 11-19 year olds with access to resources in three key modules:

- Work Skills including interview skills, CV writing and information on choosing a career.
- People Skills including interpersonal skills, self-confidence, communication, self-awareness and personal presentation skills.
- Money Skills providing financial know-how which included managing a budget, calculating percentages and understanding on how lending works.

LifeSkills forms part of Barclays long-term commitment to improving the skills of the next generation to help them achieve a secure and successful future, alongside the already successful Barclays Money Skills and Apprenticeship Programmes.

For further information about LifeSkills visit www.barclayslifeskills.com

About Barclays

Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in personal banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking and wealth and investment management with an extensive international presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia.

With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs approximately 140,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for customers and clients worldwide.
For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.barclays.com.