The Smart Futures programme has had a massive impact on me. You meet some amazing people along the way, you meet wonderful professionals and you also meet other young people who are in the same boat as you.
If you meet the eligibility criteria, we encourage you to apply for our Smart Futures programme. The process itself is straightforward and it will provide you with quality paid employability skills training, work experience and your own business mentor.
There are two main steps to the application process. The first is an online application form , which you can access by clicking the ‘Apply now’ button below. The second is a short telephone interview.
Step 1 – Online application form
You will be asked to register with us, so you will need an email address to do this (please use your personal email address and not your school one if possible!)
The form itself is short with answers to choose from. You do not have to write lots about your experience or background. You will be asked to choose which programme you would like to apply for, so make sure you have read through the different options on the Smart Futures page and have chosen a programme in a location near you. You will be asked a bit about your background, including some information about your parents/guardians, but remember that most of our Smart Futures programmes do not depend on previous work experience, grades or qualifications.
Please note for places on our Smart Futures Business and Finance programme there are some qualification related criteria e.g. a C/equivalent grade in GCSE English Language, a C/equivalent in GCSE Maths and to be on track for 112 UCAS points with their top 3 A Levels/5 Highers
Step 2 - Telephone interview
If your initial application is successful, you will be asked to take part in a short telephone interview that will take up to 30 minutes.
The interviewer will ask questions about your experiences. You can take examples from your school or home life, as well as sharing your future aspirations. The call is designed to help us get to know your individual strengths and motivations for applying to the Smart Futures programme. We want to get to know you, so relax and be yourself.
If you need technical support at any point across the selection process, you can contact us at smartfutures@eyfoundation.ey.com
Programmes currently open for applications (please note, we close applications once we receive a high number of applications, please apply asap to avoid disappointment) are listed below.
Don't know which sector you're interested in? See an overview of each of our sector programmes on our Smart Futures page.
February Half-Term Starts:
Programme Name: |
Date: |
Location |
Sector Focus of Programme: |
Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Impactful Futures |
12th - 16th Feb and 10th - 12th April |
London |
Charity sector |
Closed |
Smart Futures Business & Finance |
12th - 16th Feb and 10th - 12th April |
London |
Professional Services |
Closed |
Smart Futures Business & Technology |
12th - 16th Feb and 25th March - 27th March 2024 |
Bradford |
Business & Technology |
Closed |
Impactful Futures |
19th - 23rd Feb and 2nd - 4th April 2024 |
North West |
Charity sector |
Closed |
STEM Futures |
12th - 16th Feb and 2nd - 4th April |
Birmingham |
STEM |
Closed |
Easter Holiday / Spring Half-Term Starts:
Programme Name: |
Date: |
Location |
Sector Focus of Programme: |
Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Smart Futures - Business & Technology |
2nd April to 11th April 2024 |
Haberdashers Schools Only (London) |
Business & Technology |
Closed |
STEM Futures |
28th - 31st May and 29th July - 1st August 2024 |
North (Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester) |
STEM |
Closed |
STEM Futures |
28th - 31st May and 29th July - 1st Aug 2024 |
London |
STEM |
Closed |
Wealth & Asset Management Futures |
2nd April - 11th April 2024 |
London |
Wealth & Asset Management |
Closed |
Tech Futures |
2nd - 11th April 2024 |
London |
Digital & Technology |
Closed |
Sustainable Tech Futures |
2nd April - 11th April 2024 |
London |
Sustainable and Technology |
Closed |
Chartered Banking Institute Futures |
2nd April - 12th April 2024 |
London |
Banking and Finance |
Closed |
Secure Futures - EY funded - Manchester |
2nd April - 11th April 2024 |
Manchester |
Security and Technology |
Closed |
Chartered Banking Institute Futures |
2nd April - 12th April 2024 |
Durham, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Leicester |
Banking and Finance |
Closed |
Trade Futures |
2nd April - 11th April 2024 |
London |
Government / HMRC |
Closed |
Trade Futures |
28th May - 31st May 2024 & TBC |
Newcastle |
Government / HMRC |
Open |
Secure Futures |
28th May - 31st May and 29th July to 1st August 2024 |
London |
Security and Technology |
Closed |
Smart Futures - Business & Technology |
28th - 31st May and 29th July - 1st August 2024 |
Birmingham |
Business & Technology |
Open |
Summer Starts:
Programme Name: |
Date: |
Location |
Sector Focus of Programme: |
Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Smart Futures Business & Finance |
10th June - 19th July 2024 |
Glasgow |
Professional Services |
Open |
Smart Futures Business & Finance |
24th June - 3rd July 2024 |
Edinburgh & Aberdeen |
Professional Services |
Open |
Smart Futures Business & Finance |
22nd July - 31st July 2024 |
London |
Professional Services |
Closed |
Smart Futures Business & Finance |
5th August - 14th August 2024 |
London |
Professional Services |
Closed |
Smart Futures Business & Finance |
5th August - 14th August 2024 |
Birmingham |
Professional Services |
Open |
Smart Futures Business & Finance |
29th July - 7th August 2024 |
North (Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool, Bradford) |
Professional Services |
Open |
Met Futures |
Summer – Exact Dates TBC |
London |
Police / Corporate Services e.g. finance, legal, comms etc |
Closed |
Chartered Banking Institute Futures |
22nd July - 1st August |
Edingburgh |
Banking and Finance |
Open |
Private Equity Futures |
12th August - 22nd August 2024 Non-working day - 15th August (A Level results day) |
London |
Private Equity |
Open |
Data Driven Futures: Actuaries |
19th August - 29th August 2024 |
London |
Data, Business Analytics and Risk |
Open |