Future Leaders Scheme
2022 Winner : Poppy Pendergast, Beaulieu Convent School
The IoD Future Leaders Scheme is a work experience scheme sponsored by KPMG in the Crown Dependencies, which allows Year 12 Sixth Form students to spend one week ‘shadowing’ a Director or Senior Manager working across a number of sectors in the Island.
As a UK recognised scheme that can be used towards UCAS applications, gaining a place on the IoD Future Leaders Scheme is prestigious and therefore places are sought after. This is more than a normal work placement, this is a chance to get a first-hand insight into the role of a leader in an organisation.
1 Minute Future Leaders Application Video - Guidance
Application
We want to make our application process easier and also embrace the use of technology, therefore we ask students to submit a one-minute video along with their C.V. as part of the initial application. We have decided to introduce the video element to better prepare students for future application processes (given that it is becoming increasingly important to demonstrate the interpersonal as well as the academic side of themselves). The video can be taken on a mobile phone (no need to worry about fancy editing or use of equipment if this is not available to the student); the aim is to gauge why the student wants to apply, what they can bring to the scheme and what sector they are interested in shadowing.
A shortlist of students will then be invited to attend an interview, where they will receive feedback on the interview itself and their C.V.; many students find this feedback invaluable as it may be the first time they have had to formally interview or submit an application for a position. Successful students will then be invited to be part of the scheme and paired up with an appropriate leader based on their indicated area of interest.
Timeline
The deadline for applications is the 31st January 2023 and we aim to send out invitations for interview during February, with interviews to be held during March.
Although we can’t arrange for students to shadow Richard Branson (we would love to have this chance ourselves!), there are plenty of local business leaders who readily take the opportunity of having students sit alongside them for five days – attending meetings and getting the inside track on what it takes to lead in any organisation.
The timing of the shadowing can be flexible, however we try to arrange it for a time either during Easter or summer holidays.
The Experience
We try to ensure we match students with a leader that fits in with their career aspirations. We have contacts from a range of areas including law, medicine, finance, politics, environment and digital. However, the main factor that we reinforce is that the student will get an opportunity to shadow a senior leader and can really get to see what happens at the top. Many of our leaders also serve as ongoing mentors to the students that shadow them.
At the end of the week, students are required to submit a 500-word report summarising their shadowing experience. The report will be marked by a panel consisting of IoD, KPMG and Careers reps, which is combined with the interview assessment mark, C.V. and video application to reach an overall winner who wins a prize.
This really is an invaluable opportunity for students to get first-hand insight into the role of a leader, to add great experience to their C.V. and to also build contacts that may assist them in their future career paths.
Apply
To apply for the 2023/2024 Future Leaders Scheme, please send your one minute application video and your CV to:
Ceri Powell
Students Sub-Committee Chair
