Evolution Conference & Apprenticeship Fair · London · Autumn 2026
Meet your future talent, whether future apprentices or graduates, earlier.
The WCAN Evolution Conference & Apprenticeship Fair connects leading employers with ambitious Black female students aged 15–18, as they begin making some of their first decisions about careers, university and routes into the workplace.
From work experience and insight programmes to apprenticeships and school-leaver opportunities, Evolution gives employers the opportunity to build relationships with emerging talent before traditional graduate recruitment begins.
DATE
28 October
Half-term
VENUE
Travers Smith, EC4A
IN THE ROOM
100 - 150 qualified and selected candidates aged 15-18
CAMPAIGN REACH
26,000+ direct reach across mailing and social, amplified by 20 school ambassadors nationwide.
PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED BY THE FIRMS BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF TALENT
WHY SPONSOR
Build familiarity with talented young women before they enter the traditional recruitment pipeline.
At 15–18, students are already making decisions that shape where they study, which industries they explore and which opportunities they pursue.
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Evolution gives employers the chance to reach them at that formative stage.
01
Start the relationship earlier
Meet ambitious students before university and graduate recruitment, while they’re beginning to explore industries, employers and routes into professional careers.
02
Put your early talent programmes in front of the right audience
Promote work experience, insight days, school programmes, apprenticeships, school-leaver opportunities and other routes designed specifically for younger talent. Direct to our audience and network of teachers and schools UK wide.
03
Turn awareness into future applications
A careers page can tell students that an opportunity exists. Meeting your people helps them understand why they should pursue it. Give future applicants an experience of your organisation before applications open.
THE AUDIENCE
Ambitious young women deciding what comes next.
A selected audience of 15–18-year-old students exploring their first serious career decisions.
Some will be considering university. Others will be exploring apprenticeships or school-leaver routes. Many are still discovering industries and careers they may never previously have considered.
What connects them is ambition and a desire to understand the opportunities available to them.
15-18
target age group
113
schools and colleges represented in applications
78%
from social mobility backgrounds
500+
expected sign-ups for this event
THE DAY
From “what could I do?” to “this could be for me.”
Not simply a careers or apprenticeship fair. A curated day designed to broaden horizons, build practical skills and connect young women directly with the employers and opportunities available to them.
The World of Work
An introduction to careers and industries students may not yet know exist, from law and finance to technology, consulting, engineering and beyond.
Routes In
University isn’t the only route. Explore apprenticeships, school-leaver programmes, work experience and the different pathways into leading organisations.
Your First Application
Practical guidance on CVs, applications, online assessments and interviews, designed for students who may be encountering recruitment for the first time.
The Workplace Challenge
Teams tackle a real-world problem set by a partner employer and experience the kind of thinking and collaboration used in the workplace.
Apprenticeship & Early Careers Fair
Meet employers directly and discover apprenticeships, work experience, insight programmes and other opportunities available over the next 12–24 months.
One-to-One Career Conversations
Small-group and individual conversations with recruiters and professionals to help students understand where their interests could take them.
And much, much more.
NEXT STEPS
Becoming a sponsor.
01
Email the sponsorships team and we will send the full sponsorship prospectus and answer any questions.
02
We help you align the right level of involvement to your early careers and employer brand priorities.
03
Partner positions are limited to keep the room valuable. We confirm your place and begin planning.
