Earlier this month, we welcomed 30 Computer Science students from Salford College to our Manchester office for a Workplace Safari. Delivered alongside Microsoft, the day provided a window into what a career within IT and technology looks like, the roles that are typically available, and the exciting career opportunities on the table.
While it’s an event that is hugely enjoyable for those involved, it’s also a genuine privilege to deliver, giving us the chance to inspire local young people and demonstrate that a career in technology is not limited to one path or one skillset. This type of direct engagement is a big part of our wider commitment to supporting our local community and giving back as part of our sustainability and social value strategy.
First-hand insight into a career in technology
The goal of our Workplace Safaris is simple – showing younger generations what a role within technology looks like in practice and how they can build their own path towards a career in the sector. This is backed by hands-on activities that help students build real skills, get familiar with the latest technology, and prepare to enter the working world.
The day began with a company insight from Nick Isherwood, Advania UK’s COO, who set the scene with a brief introduction to Advania, the technology we work with, and how we leverage our expertise to support our customers.
This led naturally into one of the day’s main events – the Agent-A-Thon. Delivered by Tech Associates from our Early Careers Programme, students worked in small groups to build their own agent in Copilot Studio, before presenting their ideas back to the room. There were some brilliant agents created on the day, and students relished the opportunity to get hands-on experience with AI – an innovation that is set to play a major role in their future.
We were grateful to be joined by Microsoft, who gave students a unique vantage point to forging a career with one of the biggest names in the industry. After helping to judge our Agent-A-Thon winners, Microsoft AI Business Solutions Sales Manager Millie Lewis shared her own apprenticeship story and how it shaped her long-term career at Microsoft. Her real-life experience offered a fantastic insight into the different avenues available to those planning for a career in technology, and the opportunities for those from different backgrounds – even with one of the world’s most recognisable technology brands.
The rest of the day carried the same theme. Reuben Willis, an Advania Account Director, shared his own journey into tech sales at the age of 18, and gave an overview of his day-to-day role as well as the characteristics of a great Account Manager.
Following these sessions, students were then invited to debate the subject of AI, challenging them to think on their feet, draw on what they had learned earlier in the day, and join the discussion with confidence.
A packed day was then drawn to a close by Eden Pedley, Advania’s Director of Workforce Planning, with an interview playbook session that gave students practical advice on how to prepare, present themselves well, and stand out when they start applying for roles in technology and beyond.
Why we host Workplace Safaris
For us, Workplace Safaris are an integral part of how we support young people in the region. By opening our doors to local students, we can use the knowledge and experience of our teams in a different way, sharing what a career in tech looks like, and hopefully, inspiring them to consider this as they plan their futures.
Crucially, the event is not designed as a Careers Day pitch. It’s about giving students real-life insights into an IT career, and the opportunity to get face-to-face with the technology that is impacting our customers today. For those who came away most inspired, we hope they can now make informed decisions about their future studies to help set them on the right path.
The feedback from the Salford College students who attended reflected this clearly. They particularly valued the interview workshop, enjoyed getting hands-on with AI through the Agent-A-Thon, and came away with the feeling that a career within IT and technology was a real option for them. The best part of the day? According to one student’s feedback: “Everything!”
Away from the positive impacts on those who attended, the event also supports our wider ESG strategy, helping us engage with our local community to invest in the next generation, while making the industry more accessible to people from different backgrounds.
Building on our previous Workplace Safari events, we’re delighted to have held our first event of 2026 and are now planning to run more for local schools and colleges, giving students the chance to start planning their next steps at one of the most important stages in their lives.
Opening the door for talent
Workplace Safaris are just one part of our commitment to creating career pathways into the IT and technology sector. Alongside these engagements to inspire school and college students, we’ve also developed our Early Careers Programme to help people from all walks of life build careers in the sector – whether entering the workforce for the first time or pivoting into technology from another industry. Read more about the programme here, or follow us on LinkedIn to find out more about life at Advania.
