Products
Work Experience Simulations

Work Experience Simulations

Short, high-impact virtual experiences that help young people explore real roles and help employers build stronger early engagement.
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What this delivers for employers Simulations help create early understanding, stronger engagement, and more informed career decisions, before students reach the point of application.

5 hours

to complete high impact, low barrier

56,000+

learners already enrolled in Simulations

£98M+

Verified Social Value: across Springpod Programmes

8.5/10

average learner rating

Real Insights. Real Tasks. Real Impact.

Work Experience Simulations are short, high-impact experiences that let students step into the shoes of a professional, tackling realistic tasks designed with real employers & industry experts.

These bite-sized, high-impact experiences help young people:

Explore careers → Understand pathways, daily responsibilities, and salaries.

Build skills → Strengthen problem-solving, communication, and resilience.

Showcase achievements → Earn employer-branded certificates to stand out.

The journey for students

Each stage of a Work Experience Simulations is built to help young people get a feel for real workplace scenarios. It's task-based learning that builds confidence and skills.

Step 1

Explore a role and pathway

Learn from industry best practice and self-assess.
Step 2

Meet the expert from that industry

Watch interviews with real professionals.
Step 3

Complete a real-world task

Complete an authentic, hands-on challenge.
Step 4

Refelct with model answers

Learn from industry best practice and self-assess.
Step 5

Earn recognition and a certificate

Earn a certificate and share it on LinkedIn or your UCAS personal statement. 

Why Work Experience Simulations?

Work Experience Simulations are ideal for giving students a quick but meaningful insight into a career path through hands-on learning.

Rising application volumes
Simulations act as a pre-application clarity layer.
Inconsistent readiness
Students gain realistic exposure before entering recruitment.
Diversity and widening access
Accessible, mobile-first format removes traditional barriers.
Need for measurable impact
Track enrolment, completion and social value outcomes.

What are the benefits for Partners?

1

Stronger early talent pipelines

2

Filter applicants with ease

3

Strengthen employer branding

Use simulations to engage students from as young as 13, giving them an authentic preview of roles in your business. For example, an engineering firm can run a simulation that introduces multiple career paths — from design to project management — helping students discover opportunities they may never have considered.
Struggling with too many unqualified or Ai generated applications? Simulations can act as a pre-application step. Candidates complete a short, role-specific task first, meaning only those who are motivated and genuinely interested progress. 
Every simulation is employer-branded, so students experience your organisation’s culture, values, and real-world tasks. This positions you as an innovative, inclusive, student-focused employer.

How it works for Partners

When you join Springpod, you don’t just buy a one-off programme — you become a member.

Every membership includes:

  • Experiences

    A tailored set of Work Experience Simulations built around your roles and goals.

  • Learner Credits

    Your currency of impact. 1 Credit = 1 learner supported, from enrolment to certification. Think of it like a mobile data plan — predictable, transparent, and scalable.

  • Pods

    Tools to measure and amplify results:

    Impact Pod
    Talent Pod
    Brand Pod
    Boost Pod

Looking for something specific?

Explore how our career simulations work for your team's goals.

For talent teams

Early careers teams

Build talent pipelines and give students a meaningful first look at your organisation.

Learn more

For brand teams

Employer branding

Showcase your culture and values to the next generation of professionals.

Learn more

For Social teams

Social impact

Expand access to career experiences for under represented young people.

Learn more

Your Experience — On Springpod and UCAS

Work Experience Simulations aren’t just built, they’re distributed through an established outreach engine from day one. Every Programme is hosted on Springpod and promoted through UCAS, giving you unrivalled reach to thousands of students actively exploring careers and pathways.

Springpod

Your Programme is showcased to over 800,000+ learners already on the platform, searching for career insights and opportunities.

UCAS

Direct distribution through the UK’s leading admissions platform ensures your Programme is seen by students at the critical moments of career and education decision-making.

National scale

Across 2000 schools, your programme reaches diverse learners without barriers of geography or cost.

Always on

Students can enrol and engage year-round, ensuring your programme is always available to learners.

Result

Your Programme doesn’t just exist, it’s delivered into the hands of thousands of students, creating measurable engagement, identifying future talent, and generating social value.

Support
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about the product and billing.
What is a Work Experience Simulation?
A modular, short, self-paced online experience that lets students try out a role by completing an authentic task. Unlike traditional placements, they’re accessible anytime, anywhere, and deliver certificates learners can showcase.
Who are Work Experience Simulations designed for?
They’re designed for students aged 14+, from secondary school through to university. Employers can tailor simulations to suit early engagement or more advanced pre-application tasks.
Do students need prior knowledge of the industry?
No — simulations are built to be accessible. They provide context through career pathway insights and expert videos before students tackle a task.
Can simulations support diversity and inclusion goals?
Yes — being 100% online and free for learners removes barriers such as location, cost, and personal connections. Employers also gain visibility into who’s engaging, helping them reach underrepresented groups.
What types of industries can use simulations?
Any industry. From law, finance, and healthcare to engineering, creative industries, and tech — simulations can be designed around authentic roles and challenges in your sector.
How long does it take a student to complete?
Typically 1–4.5 hours, designed to fit flexibly around busy schedules.
How long does it take to build a simulation?
Typically 6–8 weeks from kick-off to launch, depending on the level of customisation and content creation required.
Can simulations be reused across hiring cycles?
Yes. they stay live with your annual Springpod membership and can be refreshed if needed.
Can simulations integrate with our recruitment process?
Yes. They can be used as a pre-application step, feeding motivated candidates directly into your hiring pipeline, or as an engagement tool for schools and outreach programmes.
Do students receive feedback on their tasks?
Yes. Every simulation includes model answers and reflection prompts, helping students compare their work with industry best practice and understand areas for improvement.
Can simulations be updated once they’re live?
Yes. Springpod can refresh or adapt tasks, videos, or pathways to keep them aligned with your evolving roles and hiring needs.
How do you measure impact?
Every membership includes the Impact Pod for live dashboards on enrolments, completions, and diversity. For advanced ROI, Impact+ provides independent Social Return on Investment validation.
Can’t we just build this ourselves?
You could but without the right design, engagement drops fast. Our Gen Z-first learning design delivers 11× higher completions by combining cinematic video, TikTok-style clips, interactive tasks, and reflection points. Plus, we already have direct access to 800K+ Springpod learners, coupled with distribution via UCAS — giving your programme built-in reach that you can’t replicate on your own.

Don’t take our word for it

See the organisations adopting Springpod’s Work Experience Simulations. 

Your Work Experience Simulation starts here

See first-hand how simulations bring careers to life. Speak to our team today to see how virtual work experience compliments your goals and current initiatives.

Speak to our team