We’re Back for National Careers Week 2026
We are delighted to be taking part in National Careers Week once again, continuing our commitment to supporting young people across the Humber to explore their future pathways and make informed decisions about their next steps.
National Careers Week is a key moment in the academic calendar, giving schools and colleges the opportunity to focus on careers education, raise aspirations and connect students with meaningful progression routes. At HOP, we are proud to play our part in helping students discover the wide range of opportunities available to them.
Will we return next year? ABSOLUTELY.
We interviewed the inspiring Nick Newman (founder of NCW and all-round good egg) about why HOP are an important organisation to be partnered with NCW.
Check out what he had to say!
What significance and importance does HOP have to widening participation across the Humber region?
In my opinion the role that HOP plays in the Humber region is vital; it’s unique position allows it to play a pivotal role in linking young people to information about HE and higher educational pathways.
Why are organisations like HOP important within the world of careers?
Careers provision is not just about informing young people about specific jobs and career pathways, it’s about providing people with knowledge and information that helps them make better informed decisions about their next steps. Organisations like HOP are therefore vital in the wider process.
What has been a highlight of working with HOP for NCW?
HOP are great partners for NCW, they provide excellent information that is incredibly important for young people when it comes to helping them make choices about their futures. The information and content is always of excellent quality and relevance and the team are absolutely amazing!
What are you looking forwards to moving forwards?
At NCW we keep building on all areas each year, for NCW2024 we are looking at extending our VCF to some form of regional physical event across the UK, we hope that the team at HOP would want to be involved with this going forwards.
Visit Our Virtual Careers Floor
To support activities during National Careers Week, our virtual floor is now live and ready for schools and students to access:
👉 https://ncw26.co.uk/vcf-lobby/room-4/
This interactive space has been carefully designed to help students:
- Explore different future pathways
- Discover new opportunities
- Learn more about higher education and progression routes
- Start thinking seriously about their next steps
The virtual floor can be accessed at any point during the week, making it a flexible resource that fits easily into lessons, tutor time or dedicated careers sessions.
Introducing the Next Steps Planner
To help students get the most out of their visit, we have created a Next Steps Planner, available as both a digital resource and a printable workbook.
The planner includes structured prompts and reflective activities to guide students as they navigate the virtual floor. It encourages them to:
- Think about their interests and strengths
- Reflect on different career pathways
- Identify possible next steps
- Capture key information and ideas
We recommend using the planner as a starting activity during National Careers Week to help focus students’ thinking from the outset. However, it remains a valuable tool throughout the week and beyond, supporting ongoing conversations about progression and ambition.
To find out more about NCW and maybe even take a pledge to support click HERE.