Building on the success of last year’s initiatives, Cambridge Unlocked, in partnership with Railpen, has returned in 2024 with an even greater impact, providing valuable work experience and mentorship to local sixth-form students who might otherwise lack access to the dynamic Cambridge Cluster.
Cambridge Unlocked, originally conceived from a LinkedIn discussion about addressing the inequality gap in Cambridge, has evolved into a cornerstone initiative aimed at leveling the playing field for disadvantaged students. The program, spearheaded by leaders such as Anne Dobree (Park Walk Advisors), Anne Bailey (Form the Future), Jason Mellad and Emma Plowman (Start Codon), George Neville Jones (Albus.org), and Prashant Shah (02h Ventures), has successfully expanded this year to accommodate more students and participating companies.
This summer, Cambridge Unlocked provided 13 students with paid work experience across 11 leading companies, including Costello Medical, PEM, Bidwells, Cambridge GaN Devices Ltd, DefiniGEN, Green & Purple, Mills & Reeve, Mishcon de Reya LLP, Socius, and Xampla. The programme’s growth was made possible by the enthusiastic involvement of these companies, which not only paid the students for their time but also contributed to logistical costs.
Throughout the summer, students had the opportunity to immerse themselves in various roles, gaining firsthand experience across a range of industries. Feedback from the students was overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the unique experiences they gained, such as participating in lab work, observing senior partners at work, and contributing meaningfully to ongoing projects.
Douaa Benad, who interned at Mills & Reeve, shared:
“This experience has helped me consolidate my pathway towards law and equipped me with an idea of what different sectors entail. I would like to thank the corporate team for their time and patience, particularly Anthony Kiani-Nasseri for being an amazing supervisor, helping me throughout the week. Thank you again to Form the Future and Therese Pluck for helping me receive this experience which has undoubtedly given me the confidence to pursue a career in law.”
Employers also expressed their satisfaction with the programme, noting the energy and curiosity the students brought to their teams. All participating organisations went above and beyond to ensure students could fully engage, reflecting the strong commitment within the Cambridge Cluster to support the next generation of talent.
Kelly Saunders, Talent Acquisition Manager at PEM, told us:
“We are immensely proud to have been able to support this amazing programme, and look forward to working together again.”
The success of Cambridge Unlocked 2024 has motivated the organisers to set even more ambitious goals for the upcoming academic year. Plans are underway to further expand the programme by involving larger cluster companies with greater capacity to host interns. Additionally, the organisers are exploring the possibility of offering internships throughout the year, rather than just in the summer, to provide more opportunities for students.
The application process will also be refined to ensure that placements are awarded to the most deserving students, with an emphasis on challenging their perceptions about the types of careers available to them.
Companies interested in joining Cambridge Unlocked and contributing to this transformative initiative should contact Therese Pluck at Form the Future: tpluck@formthefuture.org.uk.
