Get Inspired Basingstoke: Where local talent meets opportunity!
Basingstoke, Hampshire 04 & 05 February 2026 — The Apollo Hotel hummed with energy this week as more than 1,000 students gathered for EBP South’s annual ‘Get Inspired’ Basingstoke event. Designed to transform traditional career advice into a hands-on adventure, the two-day showcase successfully bridged the gap between school curriculum and real-world professional opportunities.
As a cornerstone of the EBP South inspiration series, the event introduced 11 to 16–year-olds to over 20 of the region’s top employers. Research shows that over a third of teenagers limit their career aspirations to just ten well-known roles, Get Inspired aims to change that by providing direct access to industry experts, raising aspirations and revealing a diverse world of local career paths that many students hadn’t previously considered.
Hands-on exploration
The Apollo Hotel was packed with interactive exhibits that turned career advice into a hands-on adventure. Students didn’t just hear about jobs; they experienced them through:
- Next-Gen Robotics: Visitors interacted with a robotic dog and mastered coding with VEX 123 robots.
- Tech Challenges: Attendees tackled a career quiz and tested their skills with Sphero gyro balls.
- Science & Safety: Crowds witnessed liquid nitrogen demos and practiced life-saving CPR techniques.
- Digital Design: Guests used VR headsets to explore tech and designed their dream homes.
Sammy Ward, CEO of EBP South, shone a spotlight on how vital this event is to young people in Basingstoke and across Hampshire:
“Get Inspired Basingstoke raises aspirations by helping young people to learn about different career paths. You can’t be what you can’t see and Get Inspired helps to raise awareness of career paths that young people may not have considered before.”
Bridging the gap between classroom and career
By creating a space where fun meets future planning, EBP South is tackling future skills shortages head-on. The impact was immediate: over 90% of students surveyed reported discovering career paths they had never even heard of before the event.
The successful two-day event was sponsored by AWE and supported by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
CEO Sammy Ward provided an engaging VIP tour of the Get Inspired event to a distinguished group of local business leaders, including Mayor Councillor Colin Phillimore, Councillor Paul Harvey, and senior members of the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.
Through these essential events and partnerships, EBP South continues to create a movement that aims to shape brighter futures, ensuring that local businesses and young talent grow together to strengthen the Basingstoke economy.
Invest a day, inspire a generation.
EBP South
Inspire | Prepare | Connect
