The route from education into the workplace is becoming more complex for young people. It is against this backdrop that Kehinde Olanrewaju, a digital technology professional, has emerged as an active contributor to youth career development, supporting students through industry insight, practical career guidance and workplace preparation.
His work comes at a time when questions around career readiness are receiving greater attention in England.
Skills England, the government’s national agency for skills, has identified a persistent gap between education and the workplace, noting that young people are often left to develop practical and transferable skills such as networking, teamwork and interview preparation independently.
For Kehinde, addressing part of that gap has meant taking industry experience directly into learning environments. Since January 2026, he has volunteered with a reputable NGO in the United Kingdom, delivering in-person and virtual Industry Insight sessions focused on digital technology, innovation and career growth.
Drawing from his experience of UK digital technologies, the sessions introduce students to career options while giving them practical guidance that can inform their subject choices and education pathways after secondary and post-16 education.
“Understanding an industry early can make a difference to the decisions a young person makes about education and work,” Kehinde said.
“My focus has been to make those conversations practical and give students useful insight into the opportunities and skills connected to digital technology.”
His involvement has also moved beyond explaining career pathways. Kehinde took part in a mock interview event where he coached students on how to demonstrate their subject experience in an interview, identify transferable skills and communicate those abilities more effectively.
That practical preparation matters as concerns continue over how equipped young people are for employment. A recent government survey of education professionals found that 73 per cent believed there was insufficient focus on preparing young people for work, while 66 per cent believed young people’s preparedness for employment had declined over the previous five years.
It is within this wider push for stronger workplace preparation that Kehinde has continued to extend his involvement. He also participated as a judge on a Year 9 work experience panel for a school-led business challenge, where he provided students with feedback and encouragement. The experience gave participants an opportunity to present their ideas before someone with industry knowledge and receive practical responses to their work.
“Students already have experiences and abilities they can build on, but sometimes they need support in recognising how those skills translate into an interview or a professional environment,” Kehinde said.
“Giving them the opportunity to practise and receive feedback can build that confidence,” he added.
That interaction with students has been a recurring feature of his volunteering. Educators have praised his ability to engage different age groups and tailor his delivery to the students’ current stage of education. They also highlighted his willingness to speak with individual students and respond to industry-related questions connected to their own interests and possible pathways.
That willingness to engage students directly has also been reflected in their feedback. Students reported improved confidence and greater knowledge of careers within digital technology following the sessions, while also describing the experience as engaging and enjoyable.
The impact has extended across several levels of education. Kehinde first supported 30 IT apprenticeship students through a virtual Industry Insight session before delivering an in-person session to 172 Year 8 students. A further 30 Year 10 students took part in another in-person Industry Insight session.
His involvement with practical career preparation widened that reach. The business challenge panel involved 135 Year 9 students, while his mock interview coaching supported 60 students across Year 9 and Year 12. Another virtual Industry Insight session reached 17 Year 12 students.
Together, those engagements have brought the number of students supported since January to 444.
That scale of participation also shows how direct industry engagement can complement what students learn through formal education.
By giving young people access to practical conversations about digital technology, innovation, careers, interviews and workplace expectations, these encounters can make future education and employment decisions easier to understand.
As career readiness becomes more important for young people, Kehinde continues to support students through practical industry knowledge and career guidance, contributing to a future where more young people can make informed decisions about technology, careers, education and work.
