New research reveals as many as 62% of teens in London
say they are inspired by careers they see portrayed in TV shows. Favourites such as Great British Bake Off, Grey’s Anatomy and Stranger Things all feature in the top 10 for 14 – 19 year olds when it comes to inspiring their career choices and piquing their
interest in the career pathways available to them.

This comes as
more than half (52%) of London parents surveyed as part of the research admit to putting off bigger life conversations with their teen if the moment wasn’t right.

However, it seems that the inspiration created by what is ‘on the box’ and this more relaxed setting could help as 1 in 3 parents admit to taking the opportunity
to cover more serious topics whilst gathering on the sofa together with their teens and watching their favourite TV shows.

It may not be the most obvious setting for such topics, however, it could be the most fitting, because both parents and teens alike believe watching TV together
helps them feel most connected. What’s more, the ‘Gogglebox effect’, in which people talk about what they are watching, will likely prompt more conversations
around careers and the many routes in,
as inspirational jobs are portrayed on the screen.

As the winter months are likely to bring more collective TV time, the Department for Education’s Skills for Life campaign is encouraging parents and teens to make the
most of time already spent together watching their favourite shows, to take this inspiration and strike up conversations about the full range of education and training choices, including the technical pathways on offer such as
T Levels,
apprenticeships
and Higher
Technical Qualifications.

Advocating for the campaign, Young MasterChef judge and Michelin-trained chef, Poppy O’Toole, comments,
“I wish I knew about the many different education and training routes available to me when I was younger. After receiving a D in my food technology A level, I almost gave up on my dream of being a chef. But I’m so glad I didn’t! Fast forward a few years
and I’m now Michelin-trained and living out my dream career. It just goes to show the importance of finding the best option for you and exploring some of the less traditional routes to getting the skills you need.

I love the idea that my story, and involvement in shows such as Young MasterChef, might inspire others to explore careers they may have otherwise thought were off
the table for them.”

The top 10 TV shows that have inspired teenagers with interesting takes on a career path include:

1.
The Great British Bake Off

2.
Grey’s Anatomy

3.
MasterChef

4.
The Big Bang Theory

5.
Stranger Things

6.
Suits

7.
Life on our Planet

8.
Glow Up

9.
The Repair Shop

10.
Last of Us

As many as 1 in 3 teenagers surveyed in London
wish their parents would broach the subject of education, training and work choices more than they do. However whilst watching shows like these may create the perfect setting, the research identified an additional barrier for parents.

37% of parents surveyed feel they do not know enough to start a useful discussion about such a topic with two thirds claiming they would like to understand
more about the routes available.

Addressing this point, careers adviser
Hannah Grabham from National Careers Service says,
“When it comes to careers and understanding of post-16 and post-18 education routes, parents are not expected to have all the answers. What’s most important is to be open to exploring all available routes, including those that may feel unfamiliar, in order
to find the route that will best enable their child to succeed.

“Technical education and training pathways, such as T Levels, apprenticeships and Higher Technical Qualifications, for example, may feel less familiar than other academic
routes. However these courses offer great experience in their chosen sector. I’d recommend visiting the Get the Jump webpage, which is a fantastic resource for exploring education and training options that offer a great alternative to more traditional academic
routes. Or, if you’d like to speak with someone directly, you can speak with a National Careers Service adviser free of charge.”

Zoe Dimitri,
18, from London, a former digital T Level student and now a business analyst apprentice at Lloyds Banking Group in Bristol,
says: “I was definitely inspired by certain TV programmes when it came to thinking about my future career.
I loved watching NCIS and CSI Cyber and was inspired by the smart, funny, female characters. I was prompted to look into forensic sciences and roles in technology.

“I decided to study for a T Level after one of my teachers suggested them. I realised they offered a unique and practical way of learning, combining both
classroom education and on the job experience.
As part of my course, I had the incredible opportunity to undertake an industry placement with Lloyds Banking Group in which I discovered a new side to myself – more confident and persistent in pursuing my goals and better at socialising with new people. My
T Level set me up for success and allowed me to progress onto my apprenticeship at Lloyds.

“I’d encourage young people to think outside the box when it comes to their next steps, taking inspiration from everywhere, including their favourite TV
shows, and considering whether they could imagine doing a job like that. There are so many pathways to take now, such as T Levels and apprenticeships, and they might be just the routes for you!”

Martha Smith, 19, an environmental consultant degree apprentice at WSP in London, says: “I was definitely inspired by certain TV programmes when it came to thinking about my future career. For example, I loved Spring Watch, Autumn Watch, Country File and David Attenborough. This fuelled my passion for the environment, and now I’m pursuing a career in the field.

“I decided to do a degree apprenticeship after my A levels. I knew that a training route that was really practical would suit me, however I know how valuable
a degree can be. I decided to study for the apprenticeship because it offers me the best of both worlds – a qualification at degree level while also learning from professionals in the workplace and earning a wage.

“I’d encourage young people to think outside the box when it comes to their next steps, taking inspiration from everywhere, including their favourite TV shows,
and considering whether they could imagine doing a job like that. There are so many pathways to take now, such as an apprenticeship, and it might be just the route for you!”

The Department for Education’s
Skills for Life
campaign helps young people aged 14-19, and their parents, explore their education and training choices including T Levels, apprenticeships and Higher Technical Qualifications.