100% Student Satisfaction Across Multiple Sessions
Thanks to the incredible generosity of Milton Keynes Community Foundation. Kristian Mackie at MK:U (programme tutor), our October 2025 Career Kickstarter programme achieved outstanding results, with student participants (aged 13-18) reporting significant growth in their career readiness and confidence. Students completed the comprehensive four-session programme with a grand finale Networking event – Career Mixer Networking, when business guests from across the City and across industries joined students to offer them a first experience of business networking. The student’s feedback demonstrates the transformative impact of this initiative.
Exceptional Results
The programme achieved 100% agreement rates across key outcomes:
Understanding Employer Expectations – 100% of students Agreed that the sessions helped them understand what skills employers want, equipping them with crucial insights into the modern job market.
Engagement and Enjoyment -100% of students Agreed they enjoyed the sessions, highlighting the programme’s success in making career development both effective and engaging.
Session: Employment Mindset and Selling Yourself – 100% Agreed this session helped them build self-awareness and confidence when presenting themselves to others, laying a strong foundation for their career journey.
Session: Building Resilience and Self-Organisation – 100% Agreed they developed resilience and self-management skills needed to handle the job search process, learned how to use technology to stay organised, and discovered how to stand out in networking situations.
Session: Networking Experience with Employers – 100% Agreed they were able to apply their Career Kickstarter learning to the networking experience when meeting employers, demonstrating the practical impact of the programme.
In Their Own Words
Students shared powerful feedback about their experience:
“This course really helped me develop my confidence but also gave me valuable insight on job applications, interviews and how to make yourself stand out.”
“I really enjoyed meeting the professionals who came in to enlighten us with their knowledge. I learnt skills on how to become a strong candidate.”
“Learning tricks and tips about getting ahead and having an advantage to other candidates when applying for a job, for example on LinkedIn.”
Building Future-Ready Young Professionals
The October cohort’s success demonstrates the Career Kickstarter programme’s ability to support students in gaining practical skills in professional communication, networking, and self-presentation – competencies that will serve them throughout their careers. Their feedback also showed strong demand for extended sessions and additional topics such as interview skills and CV building, insights we’re using to enhance future programmes.
“We got advice that is actually applicable to real life situations.”
“I enjoyed learning how to get a response from employers without applying for a job.”
“Learning how to make myself more employable and developing new skills.”
Join Our Next Cohort – January 2026
The success of our October programme reinforces why Career Kickstarter continues to be a game-changer for Milton Keynes students. Thanks again to the generous support Kristian Mackie, the team at MK:U, our busy volunteer business professionals and Milton Keynes Community Foundation.- we’re offering this transformative experience again in January 2026.
If you know a student in Milton Keynes aged 13-18 and ready to start your career journey with confidence, BOOK their FREE place HERE today. Places are limited and free of charge.
