Partner Article

TikTok Series Offers Career Insights to Young People Amid UK NEET Crisis

Essential Workwear and Working Options in Education collaborate to spotlight hidden careers — and reach over 400,000 young viewers

Bedfordshire, UK – 1 May 2025 – With more than 1,000,000 young people in the UK currently not in education, employment or training (NEET), a new video series is using TikTok to help bridge the gap between school and the workplace — one scroll at a time.

The short-form content, published on TikTok by national employability charity Working Options in Education, showcases real people in real jobs at Bedfordshire-based employer Essential Workwear — from sales and marketing to production and garment design. This collaboration came about through Essential Workwear becoming title sponsors for the Bedfordshire SME awards, and echoes Essential’s commitment to giving back to the local community, recognising hard-work and encouraging excellence.

The goal: to demystify industries young people might overlook and to offer inspiration through honest, relatable stories. The series has already achieved over 400,000 views, highlighting the appetite for content that gives practical insights into how to start and grow a career.

“It’s not just about showcasing our workplace — it’s about showing young people that they belong here,” said Louis Georgiou, Operations Manager at Essential Workwear. “There’s more than one way to build a career. If we can help young people see that early on, we’re doing something right.”

From Factory Floor to First Promotion

Featured in the series are team members who started out in entry-level roles and have since carved out long-term careers. Their stories offer practical insight into the wide range of jobs that keep the workwear industry running:

• Kira, Sales Team Leader – who joined as a customer service apprentice at 17.
• Michaela, Marketing Executive – who describes her role as dynamic and full of creativity.
• Nigel, Production Manager – who started off at the end of a dryer, quality checking garments to managing a whole department.
• Beth, Artwork Account Executive – who moved from a background in fashion into on-the-job garment design training. These voices are central to the series' appeal — offering career advice grounded in experience, not jargon.

“While watching one video might spark a new idea, watching a whole series — and taking part in our school programmes — can genuinely change behaviours,” said Susanna Plummer Head of Marketing at Working Options. “Young people need to hear from people like them, and Essential has been exceptional in helping us make that possible.” 

Turning Support Into Social Impact

The collaboration began through Essential Workwear’s position as Title Sponsor of the 2025 Bedfordshire SME Awards, where Working Options in Education is the charity partner. Having previously won three awards at the event, Essential saw an opportunity to give back.

“It’s full circle for us,” added Georgiou. “This partnership lets us share the career stories that helped shape our team, while supporting the next generation in finding theirs.” 

About Essential Workwear

Essential Workwear is one of the UK’s leading providers of custom-branded workwear, offering high-quality in-house embroidery, screen printing and direct-to-film (DTF) garment decoration. Based in Bedfordshire, the company serves clients nationwide and is known for its fast turnaround, expert production team, and commitment to service.

About Working Options in Education

Working Options in Education is a national employability and life skills charity that helps young people aged 14–19 broaden their career aspirations and develop essential workplace skills. Through free school talks, workshops, and digital content, the charity connects students with employers and professionals from a wide range of sectors.

Press Contact:
Louis Georgiou
Operations Manager
louis@essentialbranding.com
www.essentialbranding.com & www.essentialworkwear.com
01582 475801

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Essential Workwear .