Work expectations
What young people want from work, culture, flexibility and progression.
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Research that bridges employers and the next generation.
Bridgework explores what young people expect from work, what employers need next, and where the real disconnects sit.
The question
What happens when employers and young people stop guessing?
We bring both sides into the same conversation, turning assumptions into insight and insight into action.
The gap
You can’t hire a generation you don’t understand.
Young people are entering work with different expectations, pressures and ways of communicating. Bridgework helps organisations understand those shifts before the disconnect starts costing them talent.
Research themes
We are asking the questions employers should already be asking.
Skills and readiness
Where employers see gaps, and where young people feel underprepared.
Social influence
How online culture, content and social platforms shape career choices.
Employer trust
What makes an employer feel credible, human and worth applying to.
The purpose
Research should do more than sit in a report.
Bridgework is designed to move beyond interesting findings. We turn lived experience into clear implications, practical recommendations and conversations that help employers make better decisions.
Hear
Listen directly to young people and employers without starting from assumptions.
Understand
Identify the patterns, tensions and opportunities behind what people tell us.
Act
Translate insight into practical changes to strategy, content and experience.
Our pledge
Our commitment is to work only with organisations ready to turn insight into action. We'll partner with those willing to move beyond good intentions, take meaningful action and be honest about the outcomes.
Built with young people
Research made with young people, not just about them.
Young talent will form the Bridgework Collective, a group helping to shape the questions, insights and outputs. Members will gain supported, practical experience across the full research journey, from design and storytelling through to recommendations and delivery.
Social media marketing
Campaign planning, content creation, audience engagement and distribution.
Social research
Research design, interviews, focus groups, analysis and ethical practice.
Creative design
Visual storytelling, report design, social assets and data communication.
Public relations
Media storytelling, press materials, outreach and stakeholder communications.
Event planning
Programming, logistics, audience experience and launch event delivery.
Participants will leave with practical experience, published work, stronger portfolios and access to professional networks.
Timeline
From partner conversations to organisation-specific action.
Current stage
Finalising partners and the young project group for July and August 2026.
Build the project
Finalise partners and form the young project group.
Kickoff and design
Project kickoff, theme confirmation and research design.
Prepare and recruit
Participant recruitment, research preparation and quantitative survey design.
Qualitative discovery
Interviews, focus groups and deeper exploration of lived experience.
Find the story
Thematic analysis, interpretation and storytelling development.
Test the insight
Quantitative validation and testing of the emerging themes.
Build the report
Recommendations, report development, design and launch preparation.
Launch the conversation
Research release and an industry event designed to connect, share and discuss.
Take it to the industry
Conference season, speaking engagements and wider insight sharing.
Turn insight into action
Organisation-specific workshops for teams ready to act on the findings.
Publishing the research is only part of the job. The real value comes from the conversations, decisions and changes that follow.
Beyond the report
The research creates a conversation. The next steps create change.
The launch event
Connect, share and discuss.
Employers, young people, educators and industry voices will come together to explore the findings, challenge assumptions and discuss what needs to change.
Industry sharing
Take the insight beyond the room.
Conference talks, delivery sessions and partner content will keep the findings visible throughout the summer event season.
Strategy workshops
Make the findings relevant to your organisation.
Collaborative sessions will help teams identify the insights that matter most, challenge current assumptions and agree practical actions.
Partner options
Choose how closely you want to shape, support and activate the work.
Supporting Partner
£5,000 *
For organisations that want to support the project and be part of the conversation.
- Final research report
- Logo on the microsite and report
- Launch event access
- Social and PR recognition
- Mid-project partner update and early themes briefing
- Two tickets to the Bridgework launch event
Research Partner
£10,000 *
For organisations that want deeper involvement and sector-relevant insight.
- Everything in Supporting Partner
- Input into research themes
- Stakeholder interview contribution
- Early findings briefing
- Sector-specific insight
- Research Partner places intentionally limited to maintain quality of collaboration and insight
Headline Partner
£20,000+ *
For one lead organisation that wants to champion the project and activate the findings.
- Everything in Research Partner
- Exclusive Headline Partner status (limited to one organisation)
- Highest-profile project positioning across launch and campaign activity
- Four tickets to the Bridgework launch event
- Speaking opportunity at the launch event
- Bespoke findings session with leadership stakeholders
- Organisation-specific activation workshop
- Priority access to future Bridgework insight and workshop opportunities
Partners can help shape the questions and areas of focus. The research process and findings remain independent. * Prices exclude VAT.
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Built by the agency where employer brands start conversations, not just campaigns.
HIYA creates employer brands, recruitment campaigns and social-first content that help organisations connect with talent in a way that feels human, not corporate.
Partner conversations are open
Join BRIDGEWORK
and help turn insight into action.
We're currently bringing together our founding partners and Bridgework Collective members ahead of the September 2026 kickoff. If you'd like to help shape the conversation around young people and the future of work, register your interest and let's explore what involvement could look like.
Email HIYA