Careers Navigator is shaping the next generation of creators.
As a board director at NetWORK NotWORK CIC, Sarah Dale – co-founder and director of PR, journalism and communications consultancy, SASS media – combines journalism, public relations, education and wellbeing to help young people build confidence, entrepreneurial thinking and realworld skills. Through Careers Navigator and The NetWORKer Junior magazine, she champions youth voice, creativity and lifelong learning – at a time when enterprise education has never been more vital.
My board role sits at the intersection of storytelling, education and opportunity. It’s where my background in journalism, emotional wellbeing and youth development meets a mission I deeply believe in: ensuring every young person has the skills, confidence and support to shape their own future.
While my primary focus is PR and communications – helping amplify the CIC’s message of a free, fun, multigenerational networking community – one of my greatest joys is writing and editing The NetWORKer Junior. The magazine is created with young people, not just for them. Working closely with 11-year-old Alice, daughter of CIC founders Dr Kat and Michael Carruthers, has been a masterclass in what genuine youth voice looks like: creativity without limits, fearless curiosity, and a refreshing tendency to ask: “why not?” rather than “why?”.
At the heart of NetWORK NotWORK CIC is Careers Navigator, our flagship education programme. It helps children and young people explore industries, understand career pathways, and build the soft and practical skills employers increasingly value.
Having spent six years in primary education – as both a teaching assistant and an emotional wellbeing practitioner – I’ve seen firsthand how transformative it is to listen to young people and support their social and emotional development. Their needs go far beyond academic achievement. They need resilience, problem solving, curiosity and a strong work ethic to thrive.
Careers Navigator exists to spark that transformation. It isn’t just about preparing young people for “jobs of the future”; it’s about empowering them to become independent thinkers, creators and problem-solvers. The programme uses fun, realworld challenges set by businesses, and its mantra, Your Space to Succeed, sits at the heart of three innovative, gamified learning pathways:
Ignite XP! – badge clubs and an online academy for 8-16 yearolds
Ascend XP! – for 16-24 yearolds and anyone not in education, employment or training (NEET)
Orbit XP! – for adults aged 18+ in employment or who are self-employed
Each pathway allows users to earn badges and accredited qualifications through progressively more challenging employer led tasks.
And when you give young people tools, trust and a platform, something special happens. They don’t just learn, they shine.
There is a growing national recognition that enterprise education must become a core part of the UK curriculum. Research from the Federation of Small Businesses and Simply Business shows a stark gap between aspiration and opportunity: nearly 60% of young people want to own a business, yet only 16% actually do, while just 35% say they received any enterprise education at secondary school.
Meanwhile, wider curriculum reforms aim to modernise lifeskills education and prepare pupils for a fastchanging labour market. Planned updates will strengthen digital, STEM and critical thinking skills, all of which complement entrepreneurial learning and support the qualities young people need to navigate future careers confidently.
Within this national picture, the work of NetWORK NotWORK CIC, Careers Navigator and our Junior Journalism projects becomes even more important. We are helping to fill a gap that schools alone cannot bridge.
My own path has never been linear, but every step has shaped the work I do today. Journalism taught me to listen closely, ask meaningful questions and tell stories that matter. Working in primary schools taught me empathy, patience and the importance of nurturing confidence. Running SASS media with Sarah Walker has shown me how entrepreneurial thinking fuels independence, innovation and resilience.
These experiences shape my belief that young people deserve:
Opportunities to explore entrepreneurship, not just learn about it
Support for their wellbeing, because confidence and self-belief are the foundation of success
Access to realworld storytelling and journalism
Education that reflects modern life e.g. creative, digital, collaborative and grounded in practical skills
Working alongside young contributors like Alice and our Junior Journalists strengthens that belief every day. Their instinctive creativity and sharp editorial ideas prove why youth involvement isn’t a token gesture; it is essential to developing relevant and empowering content.
And if there’s one thing my journey has taught me – from newsrooms to classrooms to boardrooms – it’s that lifelong learning isn’t simply an idea. It’s a culture. One we can nurture in every child when we give them the tools, support and belief they deserve.
Find out more about NetWORK NotWORK CIC: www.networknotwork.co.uk, Careers Navigator: www.careersnavigator.co.uk and SASS media: www.sassmedialtd.co.uk or email: sarah.dale@sassmedialtd.co.uk
