Nurturing Green Careers Through Virtual Work Experience
Sustainable futures and Green careers
Delivery October 2025
Project Secondary Schools | ISEP Environmental Sustainability Skills
Partner Futures For All
ecoACTIVE partnered with Futures For All to deliver a two-day virtual work experience giving young people a behind-the-scenes look at what it means to work in the green industry. Hosted online in collaboration with Watts Sustainability, the remote placement enabled students from across the country to gain real-world insights into environmental careers while developing essential employability skills and knowledge.
Through interactive sessions, collaborative activities and professional mentoring, participants explored the breadth of meaningful career opportunities within the sustainability sector and left with a clearer picture of how they could become future change-makers.100% of participating pupils gained new practical skills
79% of young people felt confident they could achieve their career ambitions after taking part
Exploring the Green Industry from the Inside
Over the two days, participants met remotely with professionals from across ecoACTIVE to discover the variety of roles within the green sector and their contribution to the environmental landscape. Working collaboratively, students explored case studies, took part in interactive activities, and developed final presentations addressing critical ecological challenges and sustainability themes.
This interactive format meant participants could apply problem-solving, practical and communication skills, all from home, making the experience accessible to young people regardless of location.
Student Voices
Participants consistently highlighted how the experience broadened their horizons and strengthened their sense of purpose.
What students said:
"I enjoyed listening to someone who is so passionate to change our world for the better and it gave me something to think about when I'm choosing my career."
"I felt very involved... all the information was relevant and interesting and has helped me decide that I really want to work in a green career."
"I also enjoyed the group work as I was able to develop my communicating skills."
Accredited Learning and Career-Ready Skills
Students attending the virtual work experience had the opportunity to apply their knowledge in an exam and gain an accredited entry-level qualification: the ISEP Environmental Sustainability Skills for the Workforce Certificate. This credential is valued by employers in the UK's growing green economy and serves as a tangible career-boosting asset to help young people take their first steps into the sector.
“The green sector is currently the most important sector to join... with purpose-driven jobs that actually help people and the planet... it is flourishing with endless opportunities which will only grow in the next decade.”
Why Virtual Work Experience Matters
Remote delivery made this career exploration more inclusive and flexible, reaching students who may not have been able to attend in-person placements. By removing geographic barriers, ecoACTIVE and Futures For All ensured that access to green career insights was available to young people across the country, not just those in East London.
“We are very keen to equip the young generation with the skills and knowledge needed to transition to a green and sustainable economy. This shift needs to happen urgently and we need to train people for it as quickly and thoroughly as we can”
Monitoring Outcomes
Knowledge and Skills
Students explored a wide range of green career pathways and sustainability themes
Participants developed problem-solving, communication and presentation skills through collaborative activities
Students had the opportunity to gain the ISEP Environmental Sustainability Skills for the Workforce Certificate, an accredited entry-level qualification
Environmental Awareness
Participants engaged with critical ecological challenges and sustainability topics through real-world case studies
Students left with a stronger understanding of how diverse skills and backgrounds can contribute to the green economy
Many reported that the experience shaped or confirmed their interest in pursuing a green career
Career Confidence and Aspiration
Young people rated their remote work experience 4.2 out of 5 stars
79% of participants felt confident they could achieve their career ambitions after the placement
Students described feeling more informed and motivated about their future career choices
Inclusion and Access
The fully remote format enabled participation from young people across the country
Virtual delivery removed barriers of geography, travel and cost
The partnership with Futures For All connected ecoACTIVE with a national network of state school students
“All jobs will be green soon, therefore we need all sorts of careers and skills, including creatives, art, humanities, education, and so on. Anything you like, it can have a place in the green economy.”
This project was delivered in partnership with Futures For All, whose commitment to levelling the playing field for young people in state education aligns with ecoACTIVE's mission to create a world where young people and communities are agents of change for a better planet.
The virtual work experience demonstrated that meaningful career inspiration does not have to happen face to face. By combining professional insight, collaborative learning and an accredited qualification, ecoACTIVE and Futures For All equipped young people with the confidence and knowledge to take their first steps towards a sustainable future.
