Webinar: Helping Young People Find Work & Purpose by Springpod

With 1 million young people in the UK at risk of long-term unemployment, the need for action has never been greater. Work experience plays a critical role in employability – yet too many students are missing out.

About This Webinar

In our latest Impact Hour, Helping Young People Find Work & Purpose, where we’ll break down the latest research, hear from leading employers and educators, and explore real-world strategies for bridging the opportunity gap.

What you’ll gain:

- Practical solutions to support young people into employment.
- Insights from new research on work experience and NEET rates.
- First-hand experiences from employers, educators, and youth organisations.
- The chance to ask experts your biggest questions.

Let’s help young people build their futures.

Agenda

Why are so many young people at risk of long-term unemployment right now?
How meaningful work experience opportunities can drive employability and purpose.
What prevents young people from accessing quality work experience today?
Why businesses must invest early in supporting young talent – and how they can do it effectively.
How schools, colleges and youth groups can bridge the gap between education and employment.
What’s working now – practical examples and ideas that others can adopt.
What needs to change (policy, practice, partnerships) to build a better system for young people?

Springpod

Rosie O'Donnell

Strategic Account Manager

Rosie is a Strategic Account Manager at Springpod, where she helps connect employers with students to create meaningful opportunities for the next generation. A former teacher and Head of Year 11, she spent seven years in inner-city London schools teaching French and English Literature.

Her background in education fuels her passion for social mobility, and she now works with forward-thinking organisations to develop impactful student engagement and early talent strategies, bridging the gap between education and employment.

Louise Quinney

Chief Operating Officer at Movement to Work

Louise Quinney is the Chief Operating Officer at Movement to Work (MtW), a UK charity on a mission to break the cycle of ‘no experience, no job’ for young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). On secondment from BAE Systems, Louise joined MtW in 2024 to lead the operational delivery of the charity’s strategy - working closely with employers, delivery partners and government to scale access to high-quality work experiences and drive inclusive talent development across the UK.

Prior to this, Louise was Head of People Capability for BAE Systems’ UK & International Finance function. An accountant by background, she joined BAE in 2003 and progressed through a variety of Finance roles before moving into People Development, where she led the company’s Finance Early Careers programmes and later its broader Finance Capability and Talent agenda.

With experience spanning the UK, Middle East and Australia, Louise has overseen global learning strategies, talent management, and early careers programmes, and worked closely with senior leaders to shape a consistent and inclusive development culture. She headed up BAE’s UK & International Finance Development Forum and contributed to strategic groups including the ACCA Employer & Recruitment Steering Group and Kaplan Professional's Strategic Advisory Board.

Louise is passionate about social mobility and has been an active volunteer for Education and Employers’ Inspiring the Future programme for over a decade, connecting young people with career inspiration and opportunity.

Sean Condron

EMEA Social Impact Lead at JLL

Sean is the EMEA Social Impact Lead at JLL, where he manages Social Sustainability initiatives for the business. With a background in Business & Management and a specialism in Corporate Social Responsibility, his academic research challenged traditional CSR models, proposing a modernised approach for today’s corporate world.

Starting his career in Lidl Ireland’s CSR team, Sean now leads impactful programmes at JLL that support communities and drive equity. He spearheaded the creation of JLL’s flagship Social Impact Fund, enabling local teams to invest in community projects, and plays a key role in the award-winning REDI programme, including the ‘Building Your Future’ virtual work experience, which has reached over 6,000 students.

He also oversees volunteering efforts, donation and recycling schemes, and supports client requests to ensure meaningful, measurable impact.

Richard Dorney-Savage

Senior Manager (Programmes) at The Careers and Enterprise Company

Richard is a Senior Manager at The Careers & Enterprise Company, with extensive experience in careers education, youth support, and adult learning across the public, private, and third sectors.

Before joining the organisation, he was CEO of an education charity delivering careers guidance and employer engagement activities to schools and colleges. Prior to that, he spent nine years as an Early Intervention Service Manager in Bicester, supporting young people and families, and previously managed Connexions IAG and youth support services commissioned by the local council.

Richard brings a deep understanding of the challenges facing young people and a longstanding commitment to improving access to meaningful careers support.