Make Happen

About us

School leavers

Make Happen primarily works with students in year 9 to year 13 and their parents/carers, to provide impartial information about careers and pathways to Higher Education.  We offer a wide programme of interactive workshops, presentations and mentoring, to both motivate students and equip them with the skills to succeed in transition to the next stage of their education.  Activities are delivered by our team of Outreach Officers and external presenters, in school and online.

Apprenticeships

Information about apprenticeships is available to students, teachers, parents and carers via our live and recorded presentations and our website. This includes how to research and apply for an apprenticeships and the opportunities for progression to Higher and Degree apprenticeships

Higher Education

Information about Higher Education is available to students, teachers, parents and carers via our live and recorded online webinars, in school presentations and our website. Topics include the studying for a degree at uni vs an apprenticeship, how to research a course, UCAS and student finance.

As a collaborative project, our partners represent universities and colleges, providing Higher Education across Essex.  Working together, we provide university taster days and summer schools for students to experience uni life. Visitors to our website, aged 16+, can chat directly with university student ambassadors to ask questions.

Support for Employers

Make Happen provide a platform for employers to showcase their industry and career paths via our ‘Workplace Wednesday’ webinar series and a range of opportunities to engage with our network of 80 secondary schools.

Why us?

Make Happen is an impartial programme that brings together the universities, FE colleges and local authorities across Essex, and works with students from areas of the county with low progression rates onto Higher Education, helping them make informed choices about their education and future.

We help students access impartial information which can help them to make an informed decision about their next steps. We work with over 80 schools and colleges in the region to identify areas of support for their students, and to help address any identified issues.

As well as working directly with schools and colleges we also offer a range of self-sign-up events, accessible via our website, makehappen.org. These events vary considerably – from encounters with employers and university students, to webinars talking applicants through the UCAS process.

We give young people impartial advice and support, as well as offering a range of events to support parents, carers and guardians, to help them support their young people, whether that be with study skills, motivation, or preparing for exam success.

We are part of the Office for Students’ Uni Connect programme, based at the University of Essex in Colchester, Essex. By 2020, some 75,000 students had accessed Make Happen activities, and benefited for attending our various events, workshops and tours.