HAMPSHIRE schoolchildren have been leading the campaign to help improve careers advice for students across the county.

Launching the campaign at Ringwood School, Reworked Opportunities Charity is aiming to bring the world of work into the school education system.

It is aiming to recruit 1,000 businesses in 100 days to help shape the next generation of workers.

The charity is developing materials which will be available free to schools which feature job roles and industries in which the children and young people could work when they leave school.

The materials are going to be based around the curriculum requirements, therefore combining current learning activities with their purpose in the workplace.

As part of the launch Ringwood School surveyed over 160 children at the school asking them what they wanted to do and why.

The most popular job roles from the survey included sports person, vet, teacher, engineering, joining the military, catering roles, solicitors, psychologists, doctors and the beauty industry.

These roles accounted for over half the roles the students want to do.

In total 61 job roles were offered by the participants.

Missing from the responses were many traditional trades, with only carpentry featuring in their choices.

Nikki Shave, careers co-ordinator at Ringwood School is supporting the work the charity is undertaking. “As a school we have a strong commitment to preparing the students for the workplace, as part of that commitment we are always looking for new ways we can include an understanding of the workplace within their learning.

"Being able to link their learning to its real life use in business will ensure they are more informed and understand the value and purpose of this learning.”

The charity is now calling on businesses to sign up to the campaign.

Kat Linsley Hood, fundraising director, said: “We are looking for businesses of all sizes, shapes and industries to join the campaign.

"We are asking for a small donation from each supporting company to help cover the cost of the development and production of the materials along with enabling us to provide additional support to the schools”

“Getting 1,000 businesses across the county to support not only the campaign, but children’s futures will be one of the biggest movements of its kind within the business world.

"It shows a real commitment from businesses to help and support the next generation of employees.”

To get involved in the campaign, please visit inspireageneration.org.uk.