DIGITAL
Mashbo ‘Gets Connected’ to careers advice service Earlier this year software development company, Mashbo, started a scoping project with Career Connect, a large charity that helps young people and adults to achieve their potential by providing high quality, professional career, employment and training services. The foundation of its work with schools and colleges is its ‘Get Connected’ platform, a digital tool that engages young people in the careers process and provides support to teachers, alongside its inperson services. Originally created in 2015, the platform had been due a refresh, but the impact of the pandemic on young people has seen 72% of schools highlight that careers guidance as more important than ever*. A new approach was needed. Mashbo MD, Gavin Sherratt, explained: “Prior to March 2020 no one really thought that the ability to operate virtual classrooms and provide online training for school-age children was a priority. Now it is in fact pivotal to delivering consistent, high-quality education and within that, careers guidance.” The scoping process began with reviewing the current platform, identifying gaps and - crucially - understanding its users, from students to careers advisors, the functionality they needed and what best engaged them.
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significant societal events, easily tailoring and deploying content in response to local and global events in the news. The project is now moving from scoping into delivery phase and is another example of how forward-looking businesses are looking not to rehash existing solutions, but evolve them to meet new needs and expectations.
Gavin continued: “If you have the skill set, it is easy to create a tech platform that delivers a set list of functional requirements. What is difficult is making sure you build something that your target audience will actually use and that will deliver on the platform’s objectives.” The scoping process, which involved sessions with Career Connect staff, teachers and students, was used to create a refined set of essential and desired features and technical spec that would act as a roadmap for the project. At the heart of this was the needs of the young people who would be using the tool to help forge their way into higher/further education and a more-challenging than ever global workplace. Combining features like CV builders, educational slideshows and employability quizzes, with the integration and streamlining of disparate systems used by schools and the necessity for the learning experience to continue whether in school or working remotely, meant that the platform essentially needed to be built in a new and futureproof way. Gavin said: “During Digital Leaders Week 2021, it was mentioned that the pandemic has offered an opportunity in education to shift away from the traditional and often restrictive classroom-based system and to focus on pupil-centred approaches. “This is exactly what the objective of the Get Connected project is. To deliver the best solution for its key users - young people seeking careers advice and information - and ensure the people supporting them have the flexibility to do this effectively in any situation.” Plans for the new platform will not only better accommodate remote working and allow users to adapt to logistical changes, but will also provide teachers and Career Connect staff with the ability to react to
Barry Fletcher, CEO at Career Connect, said: “The team at Mashbo has helped us to see our project from a number of completely different perspectives. The scoping process has explored how all of our users currently engage with the platform and really honed in on what we need our new tech to do and where it really has the power to make a difference. We now have a solid plan in place with clear objectives that underpin our business strategy and we’re confident that the changes will enhance the experience of all of our users, from Career Connect staff to students.” Learn more about evolving your tech platforms in Mashbo’s latest report “Digitalise to Thrive”, which can be downloaded at mashbo.com *Source: The Careers and Enterprise Company
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