Your guide to a productive summer

Don’t wait until mid-August to panic about whether you’ve made the most of the summer holidays. With the last day of term speeding into view, now’s the time to plan how you’re going to balance the hours binge-watching Netflix with a workshop or webinar. That’s right, we’ve got loads of ideas to help make the six-week stretch a productive one.

Level up

School’s out, but learning doesn’t have to be! Debate Camber’s in-person summer schools are perfect for curious teens who want to dive into the world of English Literature, Economics, History, Law, Medicine or Philosophy. You'll experience university-style learning, build critical thinking skills and meet like-minded students. Online options are available too.

For tech heads, Code Ninjas’ Summer Camps at Bucks New University are the ultimate launchpad for your digital dreams. Three days of designing Minecraft mods or creating YouTube content like a pro? Now that’s time well spent. 

Work it out

Summer is often the busiest time of the year for businesses, which means they’ll be looking for seasonal staff to work on a temporary basis. Our own Work Experience page is full of opportunities, but popping into local shops, restaurants and garden centres, as well as checking their websites and social media channels, can also be fruitful. 

Boost your brand

Building a personal brand that shows who you are, what you stand for, and what you bring to the table is going to be the key to unlocking opportunities later in the year. Get ahead by joining the How To Develop Your Personal Brand webinar on Wednesday 25th June, when you’ll learn how to communicate your values effectively on social media, as well as in your CV and cover letters. Then, on Wednesday 9th July, tune into Why Students Need a LinkedIn Profile and How to Use it for a crash course on the invaluable platform.

Get a foot in the (virtual) door

For days when the weather forces you indoors (it is England, after all), Speakers For Schools and Spring Pod’s on demand services offer virtual work experience across a huge range of industries. The courses range from ten hours to three days to complete, and during this time, you’ll get to meet experts in the field, complete mini-activities, and gain industry insight – all at your own pace.

Unifrog is also hosting its second Virtual Work Experience Week on 30th June-4th July for Year 10-12 students. Combining live webinars and real Army, NHS, EDF Energy and LANTRA workplace tasks, you can sign up for just one day based on your interests or the full five days to experience it all.

Lastly, The Forage’s virtual job simulates allow you to experience a day-in-the-life of a software engineer at Skyscanner, an investment banker at Citi, a corporate tax lawyer at PwC and more exciting careers. 

Hit the culture trail

Whether you're looking for career inspiration or want to impress interviewers with your industry knowledge, don’t forget to make the most of the summer’s cultural offer. For both music and art fans, Ashmolean Gallery’s This is What You Get exhibition (open from 6th Aug) celebrates the iconic images of Radiohead; Bletchley Park’s new exhibit exploring the opportunities and risks of living inThe Age of AI is a must-visit for anyone interested in STEM subjects; and if you time your trip to Waddesdon Manor just right, you’ll score a free outdoor theatre show with your grounds admission (19th July & 7th, 9th, 14th, 21st Aug).