Building confidence and understanding of the world of work
Supporting young people to achieve successful entry into their chosen careers through in-person guidance, professional mentoring, and modern work-experience pathways.
Schools & colleges
Young people from 146 local schools and colleges took part in the 2026 IgnitED programmes
Hours each
Of structured, industry-focused learning and mentoring per participant
Programme hours
Of engagement between young people and industry professionals
Net Promoter Score
How likely participants are to recommend IgnitED to a friend. Anything above +50 is widely seen as excellent
Widening Access
As a mission-led social enterprise, we top-slice a portion of every paid registration to create our bursary fund, enabling high-achieving motivated young people, who otherwise wouldn't be able to attend. All bursary places are allocated to deserving young people through school and college staff who make nominations, reflecting the strength of our community and our commitment to widening participation. 23% of Participants in 2026 were fully or partially supported by our fund.
What young people and parents told us
“I’m so glad I attended and am privileged to have met some other fantastic fellow young engineers along the way!”
“She particularly enjoyed the visits and has found the whole experience fascinating!”
“It was clear how much he valued the opportunity to gain an insight into the medical profession and the different career opportunities available.”
“I think it was an amazing experience and you’ve done a great job at organising this programme.”
“She had an absolutely fantastic week and it really has set her up with her plan for the future.”
“My week at IgnitED was amazing! The week was packed with insight and engagement, opening my future with new skills, experiences, and networks.”
Our curriculum, delivery, and learner experience have been independently reviewed and quality assured by NCFE, a national awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual in England. All participants who complete our summer programmes receive an IgnitED certificate of completion, bearing the NCFE Endorsed Programme logo, as evidence of their achievements. These programmes are endorsed by NCFE and are not a regulated qualification.
Let's talk about working together
Our 2026 impact report sets out who took part, what they experienced, the organisations involved and our plans for 2027. We'd welcome a conversation with any organisation interested in collaborating with IgnitED.
Looking for our 2025 pilot? The 2025 programmes were held at the University of Chichester.
Read the 2025 impact summary (PDF)