VR Careers Workshop: Virtual Work Experience for Schools

The workshop helps students see how computing is used beyond the classroom, from VR simulation and interactive software to digital tools used in modern workplaces. Students experience how technology can recreate complex environments, support training, improve safety and help people practise job-related tasks before entering real settings. It links well to discussions around virtual reality, human-computer interaction, software design, digital systems, automation and the growing role of technology across healthcare, construction, engineering and manufacturing.

The workshop supports PSHE by helping students explore health and social care careers while reflecting on the personal skills needed in demanding workplace environments. Through the healthcare simulation, students can discuss responsibility, communication and decision-making in a clinical setting. We also improve teamwork, resilience and problem-solving skills, giving learners a practical context for thinking about confidence, employability, and how people respond under pressure.

The workshop supports Gatsby Benchmarks by giving students structured exposure to different career pathways, workplace environments and job-related skills. It is particularly relevant to Benchmark 4, linking curriculum learning to careers, Benchmark 5, encounters with employers and employees, and Benchmark 6, experiences of workplaces.

During the session, students explore how skills such as communication, problem-solving, precision, teamwork and decision-making appear in real workplace contexts. The workshop can be used as part of a careers week, Year 10 work experience, STEM careers day or aspiration-raising programme, giving Careers Leaders a practical way to broaden students' understanding of future pathways without the barriers of travel, site access or health and safety restrictions.

The workshop helps students see how physics is used in real technical and workplace settings. Through simulations linked to construction, engineering and manufacturing, learners can explore ideas such as forces, motion, stability, precision, materials and mechanical systems. It gives students a practical context for understanding how physics supports safe structures, working machinery and problem-solving in STEM careers.

The workshop helps students experience engineering as practical problem-solving, not just theory. Through VR job simulations, students explore how engineers use tools, systems, and decision-making to solve real workplace challenges. The engineering and manufacturing content can include mechanical assembly tasks, such as building part of a forklift mast, helping learners see how design, materials, components and safety all connect. It is a strong fit for STEM careers events, engineering enrichment, technical pathways and discussions around apprenticeships.