Inside Early Careers - November 2025 | Sanctuary Graduates

📰  Inside Early Careers — November Edition

From Uncertainty to Understanding: What’s Shaping Early Careers as 2025 Ends

Welcome!

As we close out 2025, it feels like the sector is catching its breath.

After a year of fast change — from AI adoption to shifts in candidate behaviour — clarity is the new currency.

Employers are moving away from volume and back toward value: connection, retention, and ROI that lasts.

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This month, we’re exploring:

• The rise of “career clarity” among Gen Z & Alpha
• Skills-First hiring that sticks
• Social mobility as the real retention lever
• Why L&D is moving back to in-person connection
• Plus: What’s new inside Sanctuary

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🔔 News & Highlights : What’s Been Happening

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🤝 Client Spotlight —

Stephenson Harwood LLP

Last week, we partnered with the Stephenson Harwood Future Talent team to deliver a Brand Ambassador Training Day — 100 % attendance (9 in the room, 1 virtual).

These sessions build confidence, connection and the practical tools ambassadors need to represent the firm on campus — bridging the gap between students and employers.

“It’s partnerships like these that show what early careers is really about — connection, confidence and opportunity.”

👏 Huge thanks to Maisie Southon for leading the session and representing Sanctuary brilliantly.

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🌟 Inclusion in Action —

KPMG Female Focus Manchester

An inspiring day centred on confidence, authenticity and community.

The feedback spoke volumes:

“Everyone was so engaging. I was really impressed with the questions and was excited to think that such a great group of intelligent, confident women will be in the workplace soon!”

👏 Well done to Mollie White and Digby Gordon-George for creating an event that truly embodied belonging in practice.

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🎙️ MD on the Mic — Thomas Freeman x Kokoon

(Live Today)

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This afternoon, our MD joins Kokoon’s “People Unplugged” Podcast to talk all things retention, social mobility and Gen Z expectations.

He’ll explore:

• Progression clarity beats perks — “Progression is the new perk.”

• The AI myth — hiring is evolving, not eroding.

• Social mobility as credibility — why authentic inclusion wins long-term loyalty.

🎧 Join live → luma.com/4jowvfom

We’ll share highlights and the Spotify link once the episode goes live.

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👋 Team Update — Welcome Ryan!

We’re thrilled to welcome Ryan, our new BDM Manager.

He’s already meeting clients, driving new partnerships, and joined our first monthly team outing — a local pub quiz that proved just as competitive as it was fun.

We’re excited to see what he brings to 2026.

1. The Return of Career Clarity

After years of noise — AI hype, economic swings, rapid change — graduates are focusing on fit over flash.

• 59 % of final-years now prioritise values alignment over pay.

• 1 in 3 prefer purpose-driven firms to global brands.

💡 Employer takeaway: Lead with purpose, pathways and people stories — not perks.

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2. AI in Practice — The Human Check-In

AI tools are everywhere, but the differentiator is how you use them.

• 39 % of grads use AI in applications.

• 37 % of employers are unsure how to apply AI responsibly.

💡 Employer takeaway: Educate for AI literacy, not dependence. Keep humans in the loop.

“AI should enhance fairness, not replace intuition.” — ISE Insights 2025

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3. Skills-First Momentum — From Buzzword to Business Case

Retention up 9–10 %, diversity up 90 % where skills-first is embedded.

Firms that move fast are building skills taxonomies, training managers to spot potential and using predictive metrics like pipeline ROI.

💡 Employer takeaway: Audit one area → prove impact → scale.

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4. Social Mobility — Beyond Access Into Progression

Mobility is retention.

High-potential hires from low socio-economic backgrounds still progress slower — fixing that is the competitive edge.

Quick wins: contextual recruitment (Rare CRS / REALrating), cover financial barriers, diverse panels, measure socio-economic diversity.

💡 Employer takeaway: Every inclusive process tells a story — make yours credible.

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5. Learning & Development — The Human Revival

Face-to-face learning is back: 69 % of early-careers development now delivered in person (vs 28 % in 2022).

Small-group workshops and manager coaching are driving belonging and confidence.

💬 “It’s less about what tool you used — and more about who helped you grow.”

💡 Employer takeaway: Invest in connection — it builds loyalty that lasts.

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📊 Stats Snapshot

• 39 % grads use AI in applications : Prospects 2025
• +9–10 % retention in skills-first orgs : ISE 2025
• +9 % GDP boost if UK improves social mobility : McKinsey
• 69 % training now face-to-face : ISE 2025
• Culture & ethics valued 2× more than pay : ISE / Prospects

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💭 Final Thought

The theme that keeps resurfacing this year?

The human advantage is making a comeback.

As tools evolve and systems scale, the differentiator is clarity, empathy and consistency — from first touch to long-term progression.

As we move into December, take a moment to ask:

👉 Are we building processes that help people belong — or just apply?

If you’re ready to strengthen your early careers strategy for 2026 — from mobility pipelines to ROI frameworks — we’d love to help.

📩 Get in touch or explore our latest guides at sanctuarygraduates.co.uk/insights

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Coming Next Month

🎯 Year in Review 2025 → Lessons and Leaps

🧭 Skills-First in Practice → Pilot to Performance in 90 Days

💬 Belonging by Design → The Small Moves That Cut Reneges

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Thanks for reading!