Consultants get to work on a broad range of projects with businesses, government organisations and charities to solve problems or give strategic advice. Most of the jobs will involve project management, relationship management, and problem solving.
The great thing about pursuing a career in Consulting is that you do not need to study a particular subject at university to enter the field – most Consulting firms will ask that you demonstrate an interest in problem solving and business case studies.
What Happens on the Programme?
The Pathways to Consulting programmes is completely virtual and runs over two academic years, starting when you are just heading into Sixth Form/College and finishing before your exams in year 13. Alongside an online work experience placement with a leading employer (Bain, McKinsey, BCG, and Oliver Wyman), there is a programme of after-school online skill workshops and information sessions, mentoring opportunities, and networking events with universities and leading professionals, all packed full of opportunities to develop skills needed to access a career in consulting.
Employability Skill Workshops
Employability Skill Workshops
Throughout the programme, there will be online skill workshops delivered by our 4 partner firms teaching you various employability skills specific to Consulting, such as:
• Problem solving
• Communication
• Data analysis and visualisation
Work Experience
Work Experience
“I never knew about Consulting before but after our insight week, I found that I really enjoyed the experience of being a consultant and it encouraged me to pursue a career within the sector to develop my skills.” – Abdullah Imran, 2021-22 Pathways to Consulting alum
Our work placements take place virtually and are between 3 and 5 days long. There is also the optional opportunity to attend an in-person launch event at your host firms’ offices in London, but don’t worry this is will fully available virtually too. Work experience will provide you with the opportunity to get a flavour of the day-to-day activities, project and workloads that make up a career in consulting and gain the employability skills that will help you gain access to Consulting when you graduate.
The types of things you could get involved with include:
• Managing a project (e.g. presentation)
• Taking part in employability skill masterclasses on communications or excel
• Attending panel sessions
• Networking with professionals
Insight Events
Insight Events
At online insight events, you will get to hear from a panel of employers/a single employer about what it’s like to work in the field, what the different departments do, what the different jobs are, and what different companies look like. You’ll walk away with an in-depth knowledge of what kinds of jobs you are most interested in and what they will look like day-to-day.
University Taster Sessions
University Taster Sessions
You will be invited to attend online information and Q&A sessions with our prestigious university partners and take part in exclusive tester lectures in subjects linked to consulting e.g. economics and business management.
Undergraduate Mentor
Undergraduate Mentor
Throughout your programme, you will be able to talk to current undergraduates and alumni who can provide guidance where needed on anything and everything to do with university applications, life at university, and studying at university.
Sutton Trust Online
Sutton Trust Online
Sutton Trust Online (STO) is our digital platform providing support to students on their journey to university or an apprenticeship. Alongside your core Pathways programme you will also have access to STO. Here you will be guided through all the information, skills and advice you need as you explore, apply, prepare and succeed at university or an apprenticeship.
Workshops
Workshops
There are certain ‘soft skills’ which will help you when you are looking for work and starting out in your career. Throughout the programme, there will be monthly after school/weekend skills workshops for you to take part in, such as:
• Networking
• CV Writing
What are the benefits of the programme?
University and Apprenticeship Application Support
University and Apprenticeship Application Support
Pathways will provide expert and personalised support throughout the university and apprenticeship application process, with:
• A personal statement mentor and apprenticeship application workshops
• University and Apprenticeship Q&A sessions
• Curated resources on how to write the best application
• Lots of information on bursaries, scholarships, and financial aid
Professional Network
Professional Network
Throughout the programme, you’ll attend online networking skill sessions and then put your new skills into practice. Meeting a variety of employers, volunteers and university professionals, you will build up your professional network for future opportunities. Employers are often keen to stay in touch after graduating from the programme and often have exclusive opportunities available for our Alumni once you’ve graduated university.
Peer Network
Peer Network
Throughout the programme, you will meet with other students for both events and social activities. Often our students end up at the same university as their programme, which means that you will already have an established network of friends when you get there.
Work Experience
Work Experience
You will automatically be eligible to apply for an exclusive online 3-5 day online work experience placement which will develop your key skills (e.g. problem solving, working independently, presenting) as well as helping you meet and connect with various employers.
Students applying to Pathways to Consulting must meet the following criteria:
- Attend, and have always attended, a state-funded, non fee-paying school/college
- Be in Year 12 (England and Wales), Year 13 (Northern Ireland) or S5 (Scotland) at the start of the programme
In addition, we are looking for students who:
- Have achieved 5 A* – B grades at GCSE (with a minimum of 2 A*
or A grades), including grades 9 – 6 in Mathematics and English, or have achieved 5 A or B grades at National 5 (with a minimum of 2 A grades) including grades A or B in Mathematics and English. - Would be the first generation in their family to attend university
- Have been in receipt of Free School Meals whilst at Secondary
School - Have attended schools with a lower than average progression to
Higher Education, or a higher than average proportion of students
who qualify for Free School Meals - Live in a neighbourhood with a low rate of progression to higher education or a high level of socio-economic deprivation
- Have been looked after or in care
The more criteria you meet, the more likely you are to be offered a place on the programme.
How to apply
Applications for all Pathways to Consulting programmes are now open and will open on 13/11/2023.
Programme partners
