5 Benefits of Industry Engagement
At Apps for Good, we’re proud to connect teachers and students with Industry Volunteers from leading companies like Spotify and Google, as well as lesser known - but equally impressive - brands and smaller businesses, all sharing their expertise and enthusiasm!
As part of our free computing courses, teachers can sign up for virtual sessions with industry professionals who bring real-world expertise directly into the classroom. Industry Volunteers can give students tailored feedback on their app ideas or, alternatively, deliver a more general careers session.
Curious how Industry Engagement can help your students? Here are our top five benefits:
1. It boosts student motivation and focus
Research shows 69% of secondary teachers are finding disengagement to be one of the biggest barriers to learning, particularly for disadvantaged learners*. Bringing a professional from the world of work into the classroom can make a real difference, helping students stay focused and engaged. Our Industry Volunteers know how to engage with young people, making sessions eye-opening and inspiring, whether you have the full hour to dedicate or just 20 minutes. The sessions are designed to spark enthusiasm, encourage active participation, and leave students feeling motivated and inspired.
*Pearson Report 2025
The Industry Volunteers consistently bring empathy with clear, supportive advice. Their engagement provides students with invaluable feedback while giving them a taste of professional life...these sessions are a real highlight of the academic year.”
Steve Hall, Director of Curriculum, LiFE Multi-Academy Trust
2. It provides real-world insights
We’re proud to be building a community that cares by bringing education and industry together. That’s why Industry Engagement is embedded into our course content.
By connecting students with professionals, they can receive practical, real-world advice on their app ideas which will help them to progress them. Volunteers may share problem-solving strategies, industry perspectives, and expertise that support students to refine their concepts, think critically, and tackle challenges like real innovators. Just as importantly, students gain a valuable glimpse of life beyond the classroom and what working with technology in their future could really look like.
3. It offers positive role models
Meeting professionals from a wide range of backgrounds helps students see that careers in technology are real and achievable. These experiences can spark an interest in computing and open their eyes to possibilities they may not have considered before. Connecting young people with relatable role models broadens aspirations, introducing them to careers and pathways they might not otherwise encounter.
They have accomplished really great things in their life. I can look up to them, and I can take inspiration from them. If I keep working the same path, keep doing projects like this, maybe one day I can get up to their level.”
Salum, Student at Challney High School for Boys
4. The process is simple, flexible, and low-admin
Booking a session is simple and hassle-free! Just submit a request via your Apps for Good account, a volunteer will accept it, and you’ll receive a confirmation email to coordinate directly - no lengthy admin, just a few clicks and you’re all set! And remember, we’re always here to support you.
5. It boosts essential skills like communication and teamwork
At the heart of what we do here at Apps for Good is helping students gain skills. Industry Volunteers give students a safe space to practise pitching, teamwork, and presenting their ideas. Many of our teachers and students notice the clear impact these encounters have on both their confidence in themselves and their ideas, and their communication skills.
[Pitching to judges] was a really good experience which meant a lot. The judges thought it was an amazing idea because it can actually help people and make an impact...It felt great that I’d helped to develop it.”
Year 9 student, Cedars Upper School
Book a time to fit your timetable
Sessions are designed to be flexible: you choose the time, date, and length that works best for your class. Just head to your Apps for Good educator dashboard to book a session today. If you have any questions or need support, you can email us on education@appsforgood.org or book a 1 to 1 with our Education Community Manager, Kathy.