At Robiquity, we're passionate about helping organisations unlock the potential of technology, automation and AI. But we're equally passionate about supporting the next generation of talent and giving back to the communities in which we work.
This week we were delighted to welcome a group of work experience students to our Manchester office for a hands-on insight into life at Robiquity. The visit formed part of our ongoing commitment to supporting grassroots technology initiatives and helping young people develop the skills, confidence and curiosity needed to thrive in the modern workplace.
Rather than simply talking about careers in technology and consulting, we wanted students to experience first-hand how teams collaborate to solve complex business challenges – from discovery and analysis through to solution design and development. And we wanted to have a bit of fun while doing so!
Bringing Discovery to Life
The day began with an interactive session led by Ross Penlington and Aidan McKell from Robiquity's Analysis & Design Practice.
Students were introduced to the vital role analysis plays in successful technology projects, learning how consultants work alongside clients to understand challenges, uncover opportunities and build a clear vision for change. Through practical examples, Ross and Aidan demonstrated why effective discovery is often the most important stage of any transformation programme.
To bring these principles to life, the team created a workshop with a uniquely topical challenge: helping England win the Men's FIFA World Cup.
Students were tasked with imagining that The Football Association had approached Robiquity to investigate England's decades-long wait for international success. Working as consultants, they:
· Analysed historical strengths and weaknesses
· Explored factors behind near misses and tournament disappointments
· Identified key challenge statements that could help unlock future success
Ideas from the students ranged from improving performance under pressure in penalty shootouts to strengthening grassroots goalkeeping development. Some students even explored how emerging technologies and AI could be used to provide a competitive edge at the highest level of sport.
The resulting presentations showcased an impressive blend of creativity, data-driven thinking and storytelling. For Ross and Aidan, the quality of ideas demonstrated the enormous potential of the young talent in the region.
Tackling the Impossible
After spending the morning working out whether England's men could do the impossible this year, in the afternoon, the students faced a different challenge. Working in teams, they were given "The Impossible Brief" – develop a solution that helps people find lost items without using technology.
The exercise was deliberately designed to remove the tools that many of us instinctively rely upon in today’s modern world. Instead, students were encouraged to work within ambiguity, challenge assumptions and think from first principles.
The objective wasn't to arrive at the perfect answer. It was to explore creativity under constraints, balance innovation with practicality and communicate a compelling solution to a real-world problem.
Both teams rose to the challenge, producing thoughtful and inventive concepts that focused on human behaviour, user needs and practical implementation. Throughout the exercise, they demonstrated many of the skills we look for in successful consultants: critical thinking, structured problem solving, collaboration and clear communication.
Supporting the Next Generation
Activities like these are about much more than a day in an office. As AI continues to reshape every industry, it is increasingly important to help young people understand the breadth of career opportunities available to them and the skills that will be required in future talent. By opening our doors to students and creating practical experiences that mirror real consulting engagements, we hope to inspire the next generation of technology leaders.
Manchester has long been a city built on innovation, and we're proud to play our part in supporting local talent and investing in the future of the region's technology community.
A huge thank you to all of the students who joined us. Their enthusiasm, creativity and willingness to embrace new challenges made the day a real success. And who knows, perhaps some of the ideas developed during the day might even help bring football home one day!
If you’d like to learn more about a career at Robiquity, visit here.
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