Unifrog’s Employer Forum 2025

This year’s Unifrog Employer Forum brought together over 50 leading employers from across the UK to exchange insights and best practices in early careers development.

We kicked off the day hearing from keynote speaker Mark Cameron OBE, CEO of the 5% Club, about the evolving value of apprenticeships, before diving into the data!

Key insights from our 2025 student survey of over 40,000 students

Caroline, our Head of Employer Partnerships, and Ishmael, Data Insights and Research Manager, shared some interesting findings from the Unifrog platform and our latest survey of over 40,000 students.

A new insight for 2025 – students are turning to AI for application support. Only 24% said they wouldn’t consider using AI during the process. On the platform, we’ve seen a drop in students saving written application guides, suggesting a shift toward AI tools over more traditional resources.

As this trend grows, it’s more important than ever for employers to provide clear guidance on how AI should (and shouldn’t) be used when applying to their opportunities. Whether through website FAQs or Unifrog content, employers have a chance to shape responsible, transparent AI use for the next generation of applicants.

What are students and teachers saying?

During our student and teachers panel, employers gained first-hand insight into how to better support young people, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, as they navigate apprenticeship pathways.

The big takeaway? While interest in apprenticeships is rising, many students still find the application process confusing and unfamiliar. Unlike university applications, apprenticeships often require job-search skills like CV writing and assessment centre prep – areas where employers can make a big difference through mock interviews, school visits, and early outreach.

The panel also emphasised the crucial role of parents and teachers in students’ decision-making. Helping families understand the long-term benefits of apprenticeships, such as gaining qualifications without student debt, is key.

Students shared that they value real-world insights the most: work experience, “day in the life” content, and opportunities to meet current apprentices. For them, choosing an employer isn’t just about the role, it’s about culture, connection, and confidence in their decisions.

Cross-sector collaboration

The second half of the Employer Forum focused on peer learning, starting with roundtable discussions between employers and the Unifrog team.

Tesco and EY then took the spotlight, showcasing how they’re using Unifrog to connect with students.

Tesco shared how their Unifrog employer profile and Virtual work experience course help students explore career paths from Level 2 apprenticeships to graduate roles. By tracking engagement data, they’ve been able to reach underrepresented groups and strengthen their internal collaboration across teams.

EY highlighted how Unifrog has helped boost applications with 73% of their 2024 apprentices coming from Unifrog partner schools. Their use of videos, virtual fairs, and insight days developed in collaboration with Unifrog has led to a 54% increase in students shortlisting EY roles, particularly among female and lower-income students.

Interested in how a Unifrog partnership could help your organisation connect with best-fit students? Book a demo here. We’d love to hear from you!