Looking past academic achievements as an Enterprise Adviser

I’ve always done a lot of drop-in work with schools across the UK as part of my role as the Early Careers Partner at wagamama – but the temporary nature of that left me searching for a project where I could create a longer-term impact. 

Spending so much time with schools for wagamama meant that the Enterprise Adviser role came naturally. There’s still work to do towards completely bridging the gap between education and employment, so I wanted to pursue that in a local placement that suited my other professional commitments. St Joseph’s Catholic School in my hometown of Salisbury was always my first choice.  

Hospitality as a space for developing workplace skills 

I believe that careers education should reflect the fact that society now values diversity more than ever. The beauty of hospitality is that it’s everywhere, so whether you’re in an affluent area or not, ​​dining and drinking spaces are active parts of the community. It’s an inclusive industry, with flexible contracts, great development pathways and varied job roles.  

It’s also an ideal industry to evolve in, which is why we don’t require CVs for entry level roles at wagamama. If a candidate brings their best self to the position, we'll equip them with the skills that they need to successfully flourish in our restaurants. That principle runs through my approach to being an Enterprise Adviser too: I believe that attitude and application will always trump background and attainment. 

Working in hospitality is a fantastic way for a young person to develop their confidence and skills in a professional space, so I try to promote the qualities of communication, self-belief, and hard work among school leavers.  

Creating opportunities by launching new workplace programmes 

As a business, we haven’t offered work experience until very recently. Just last year, we took our first step by starting a virtual work experience platform, becoming the first hospitality brand to take that digital approach.​​ Over 1000 young people have now completed the programme since it began – with those numbers continuing to rise! 

Having succeeded in this digital approach, we decided to pilot traditional work experience in our restaurants. Naturally, it made complete sense to have St Joseph’s as part of this trial. Together, we identified one neurodiverse individual whose dream is to become a chef. This first trial couldn’t have gone better: after a week of supporting the local branch with both front and back of house tasks, they were offered a paid position! This was the sort of impact I wanted to be part of as an Enterprise Adviser – seeing one small opportunity blossom into what will hopefully be an exciting career  

I also facilitated an interactive project day for everyone at St Joseph’s who were unable to secure work experience, chatting to them about everything from the local hospitality scene, what it takes to be a high-performing team, to marketing and business strategies – culminating in a round of group presentations. Some of those who spoke so convincingly on the day had previously struggled with their public speaking, which proves the power of creating a low-pressure space in which employability feels less daunting. 

You can’t be what you can’t see 

My former teachers would probably be surprised that I’m now involved in careers education. In hindsight, I wish I had somebody to tell me that my personal academic struggles wouldn’t define my future. You can’t be what you can’t see – so my main motivation today is to be the person I never had access to. 

Someone’s background shouldn’t predetermine their path, which is why we must change perceptions of status within careers education. I left school with no qualifications, but I’m transparent about that in my outreach. Sharing these obstacles is the easiest way for young people to recognise that everything is possible. 

Becoming an Enterprise Adviser 

As an Enterprise Adviser, my main goal is always to support young people – but the role has clear benefits at a business level too. The position has offered us at wagamama a uniquely local chance to market our brand, develop our teams, and directly recruit someone at no cost. If we can scale that up by encouraging more volunteers across the business, it’s a win-win. 

You don’t need to be in an executive position to be an impactful Enterprise Adviser. In fact, I believe our network of business volunteers should be just as diverse as the schools we collaborate with. By using your skills and sharing your business knowledge, you can make a real difference. Just a few hours of your time can genuinely have a life changing impact.

Blog by Lauren Robbin, Enterprise Adviser and Early Careers Partner at wagamama.