Apprentis x UpSkillMe by GTI Group x Macquarie Group
Rise to It with Macquarie
Social Mobility Employer Insight Day for Year 12 students in Greater Manchester. A precision-targeted awareness campaign and post-event student journey infrastructure.
Executive Summary
In spring 2026, Apprentis partnered with UpSkillMe by GTI Group and Macquarie Group to deliver the first-ever Northern Rise to It Insight Day, a social mobility programme for Year 12 students in Greater Manchester. Apprentis ran a precision-targeted multi-channel awareness campaign, then provided the post-event student journey infrastructure to ensure the day's impact extended well beyond 6th May.
Context
UpSkillMe by GTI Group partnered with Macquarie Group to create a dedicated insight day for state-school Year 12 students across Greater Manchester, giving them direct access to finance industry professionals and a pathway to Macquarie's work experience programme.
Apprentis' Role
- Targeted email and platform awareness campaign
- Organic LinkedIn and Instagram social outreach
- Post-event student journey and readiness infrastructure
Why It Matters
97% of applicants came from state schools. 39 met the 2-point social mobility criteria. This aligns closely with the student demographic Apprentis is designed to support.
Campaign Performance
Apprentis Email Campaigns, 2nd to 6th April 2026
| Campaign | Date | Recipients | Opens | Open Rate | Clicks | CTR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance & Banking Insights #1 | 2 Apr | 269 | 143 | 53.2% | 90 | 33.5% |
| Finance & Banking Insights #2 | 3 Apr | 270 | 107 | 39.6% | 82 | 30.4% |
| Finance & Banking Insights #3 | 5 Apr | 275 | 164 | 59.6% | 60 | 21.8% |
| Finance & Banking Insights #4 | 6 Apr | 227 | 173 | 76.2% | 51 | 22.5% |
| TOTALS | 4 days | 1,041 | 587 | 56.4% avg | 283 | 27.2% avg |
Industry context: The education sector averages approximately 25% email open rates. Apprentis campaigns averaged 56.4%, which is 31% above benchmark, with Campaign 4 reaching 76.2%. This reflects a precision-targeted student database, not a mass-blast approach.
Application Funnel & Social Mobility Impact
Application Funnel
- Total applications101
- Eligible (2-point SM)39 (39%)
- Offers made33
- Attended (confirmed)30
School Type
- State schools98 (97%)
- Private schools3 (3%)
Social Mobility Criteria
- Strong SM (2-point)39
- Partial SM (1-point)31
- Below threshold31
Note on Apprentis campaign attribution: 13 applications arrived during the Apprentis campaign window (2nd to 6th April), of which 2 were eligible and 1 received a confirmed place. The larger application spikes (January, March) pre-dated Apprentis' involvement. Apprentis was engaged as a late-stage partner; earlier integration in future programmes will maximise eligible yield.
In Their Own Words
“If they told you the truth, it would not be a story anyone reads.”
Arun Assumall, Head of Commodities & Global Markets EMEA, Macquarie
Student Voice from the Day
Anton Swindells
Year 12 Student | Rise to It with Macquarie | 6 May 2026
First Impressions: Understanding Macquarie
“We kicked off the day by learning about Macquarie as a firm. Hearing about their 56 years of unbroken profitability and heavy investment in essential infrastructure really broadened my understanding of how massive global assets are managed.”
Live Trading Simulation
Students stepped into the role of commodity traders, reacting to real-time macroeconomic events and market shocks.
“When news broke that the US was exiting the Paris Climate Agreement, I pitched to my team that the American oversupply would shift supply outward, driving down the equilibrium price. We shorted, we were right, and made £4k.”
Learning Under Pressure
The final rounds introduced uncertainty, fast decision-making, and the reality of market unpredictability.
“Despite my initial instinct to buy during a supply constraint, and after debating with colleagues, we overthought the long-term impact and talked ourselves into selling. This caused us to lose the final round.”
Recognition & Feedback
Although the team lost the final round, Macquarie professionals highlighted the strength of their economic reasoning throughout the exercise.
“The Macquarie team commented that we were the strongest team in terms of our economic chains of reasoning throughout all five rounds. I will take the feedback!”
Key Takeaway
“The simulation really allowed me to understand the true unpredictability of markets and just how fast-paced trading really is. It showed me that success often comes down to navigating and reacting to immediate aftershocks in real time.”
Reproduced with permission. Anton Swindells confirmed consent to be named and quoted in this case study.
Key Takeaways for Future Partnerships
Campaign Quality
Apprentis campaigns consistently outperformed sector benchmarks, with 56.4% average open rate versus 25% industry average. Precision targeting of a relevant student database drives engagement that mass outreach cannot replicate.
Earlier Entry = Greater Impact
Apprentis joined the pipeline in April, after the majority of applications had already been received. Engaging Apprentis from the outset of future programmes will significantly increase eligible applicant yield.
Eligibility Targeting Is a Skill
61% of total applicants did not meet the 2-point SM criteria. Apprentis' database and segmentation approach is built to surface the eligible pipeline. The closer the brief alignment, the higher the conversion.
The Post-Event Journey Creates Long-Term Value
The readiness quiz, follow-up guidance, and structured engagement provide a measurable, scalable follow-through layer. This is what turns an insight day into a career outcome, and what differentiates this model from a one-day event.
A Replicable Partnership Model
Apprentis + UpSkillMe + Employer Partner is a proven three-way structure. It can serve more programmes, across more cities, with full journey data from awareness through to application and outcome.
Post-Event: Apprentis Readiness Quiz
All 30 attending students received access to the Apprentis Readiness Quiz, a personalised 5-minute assessment across 6 dimensions: self-awareness, skills, application readiness, employer engagement, and career growth. Each student receives a tailored action plan to convert the insight day into concrete, measurable next steps.
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