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Beyond banking: working with schools to deliver outstanding careers education
We can offer a range of free careers services to prepare students for the world of work and support schools with their regulatory responsibilities.
Read time: 4 mins Added: 03/11/25
Schools and colleges across the country are committed to helping their students reach their full potential. With a nationwide network of dedicated Relationship Managers embedded in the education sector, we understand the challenges they face and the pressure to do more with limited resources.
We work with nearly four in five academy trusts and are trusted to meet schools’ day-to-day financial needs reliably and efficiently. We also play a vital role in supporting them beyond these core services. That’s why we’ve teamed up with specialist partners to offer a tailored range of free careers services. These services are designed to prepare students for the world of work while helping schools meet their growing regulatory responsibilities and deliver excellent outcomes for young people.
In the recent government white paper on education and skills, it’s recognised that skills are central to driving growth. The white paper outlines a plan to equip people with the education and training needed for successful careers, working closely with employers, colleges, and universities. We’re actively contributing to this ambition through our own programmes and partnerships.
Tailored careers support at no cost
We work with schools and colleges to understand exactly what they would like to achieve with their careers support. We then identify any gaps in their current provision and help to deliver the right combination of solutions to create effective careers programmes. What’s more, this all comes at no cost to the schools we work with.
In the 2024-25 academic year, more than 110,000 students aged between six and 19 joined more than 900 Lloyds events and activities. These activities were designed to help them build essential skills, navigate the job market and experience working life.
All these services are benchmarked by the Careers and Enterprise Company, the national body for careers education in England. They also meet the Gatsby Benchmarks, which all schools and colleges must implement from September 2025.
Equalex
Equalex is a proven approach to delivering work experience. It ensures young people gain the skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to make informed decisions about their careers. It starts from year seven and offers students flexible experiences that can be delivered at a Lloyds’ site, in school, online or through hybrid co-delivery.
All the tailored experiences we deliver have a clear purpose, with a chance to meet employers, perform work-relevant tasks and receive valuable feedback, with time for preparation and reflection. Equalex can also help schools to meet government statutory guidance to provide two weeks’ work experience for all students.
Skills Builder
Skills Builder is a programme of six experiences to empower students to develop essential work skills. It has been developed for every year group in secondary and post-16 education. Delivered by trained Lloyds colleagues, these inspirational, interactive sessions help build young peoples’ confidence by working on realistic challenges that give a real flavour of working life.
They are designed to help schools integrate their careers support with the curriculum to create better outcomes for students. The level of support can vary based on your location, but we cover the whole of the UK, and start from age 11, following pupils through their school life.
Teacher Encounters
Work experience isn’t just for students; Teacher Encounters provides opportunities for teachers to spend time with employers to see how the subjects they teach in the classroom are applied in the workplace.
Employers often express concerns about young people not being ‘work-ready’, citing gaps in essential skills and industry knowledge. The Teacher Encounters Programme works to bridge this gap by connecting subject teachers with employers, apprentices and graduates.
With a deeper understanding of the skills employers need, teachers can incorporate this new knowledge into their teaching. This can help make lessons more relevant and engaging for students. It’s an initiative designed to give teachers real world insights that can help students achieve their full potential.
Skillsfest: building essential skills for future careers
Skillsfest is our flagship open-door event, designed to equip young people with the essential skills they need to thrive in the workplace, and to explore exciting career opportunities within Lloyds. Aimed at students aged 14-19 and their parents or carers, Skillsfest blends inspiration with hands-on experience, offering a unique glimpse into the world of work and the future of finance.
At the heart of Skillsfest is the Skills Builder Universal Framework, a nationally recognised model that defines eight essential skills — such as teamwork, problem solving, and speaking — that underpin success in any career. Through interactive sessions like “Crime Fighters” and “Too Good to be True” students actively practise these skills in real-world scenarios, guided by Lloyds colleagues, apprentices, and partner organisations.
With events held across major UK hubs and supported by Lloyds volunteers, Skillsfest is more than a careers fair—it’s a launchpad for young people to imagine what’s next, build confidence, and see how their skills align with meaningful futures at Lloyds Banking Group.
Why not join one of our weekly open drop-in calls for teachers, careers leads and school leaders to talk about your careers plan and how we can help you deliver it? Just email Skillsbuilder@lloydsbanking.com and we’ll send you a link.
For more information for teachers, educators and careers advisors on our work experience and skills building initiatives, read more here.
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Lloyds Banking Group is a financial services group that incorporates a number of brands including Lloyds. More information on Lloyds Banking Group can be found at lloydsbankinggroup.com.
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