GETTING AHEAD is a unique programme of employability skills based conferences for Tower Hamlets secondary schools organised by the Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership. Group Advisors (an adult volunteer with experience of life/work/business) work with small groups of students through several workshops across a day/two day long conference.

Each workshop covers a certain area of work. These areas include first impressions, employer expectations, teamwork, problem solving, applying for a job, interview skills, and so on. There are usually around 80 students, 14 to 15 years old, divided into teams of 7 to 8.

The aim of the conferences is to help prepare students for the world of work by encouraging them to think about the skills and qualities they have as well as those they may need to develop or improve.

Run for over fifteen years in most of the schools in Tower Hamlets, GETTING AHEAD is an established and highly valued programme for young people. Every year approximately 2,700 pupils, aged 14/15, attend a GETTING AHEAD Conference.