The new Fledglink app – the LinkedIn for early careers – has launched in the UK to help bridge the education-to-employment gap for “Gen Z”. It also aims to tackle the diversity problem in recruitment.

The game-changing mobile app Fledglink is already ruffling feathers in the online professional networking space. Whilst the market-leading platform LinkedIn is aimed at professionals with significant industry experience, Fledglink bridges the challenging gap between the final years of a student’s education and the crucial period when they look to kickstart their careers.

Gateway to Gen Z

The revolutionary platform offers a free-to-use dedicated social network for 16-24-year-olds, focussed entirely on educational and professional support. Fledglink connects students and young people from diverse backgrounds, with exciting employment opportunities offered by leading companies.

“Organisations are faced with a painful irony when it comes to attraction of young talent. They are told by young people to attract them through social media, but what this means is Instagram, Snap Chat and Facebook. Gen Z doesn’t want employers snooping around their informal social networks. There hasn’t been a suitable social network through which to engage them in a more professional way, until now.”

Ellie Yell, Founder of Fledglink

Industry leading technology

Fledglink incorporates industry-leading technology, personality insights, digital mentors and 360-feedback through the unique way in which the social network interacts on the platform. It supports anyone from the age of 16 on topics including careers advice, business acumen, employability skills, mental wellbeing and skills; as well as integrating a highly informative and tailored job-board dedicated to early careers (work experience, apprenticeships, internships and graduate roles).

>See also: Gen Z: Blurring the Lines between Work and Play

Fledglink is founded by business Psychologist Ellie Yell who has a wealth of experience in supporting organisations and educational institutions around people development, assessment and talent management. Improving diversity continues to be ranked as the top challenge for 2019, according to the Institute of Student Employers’ members. Fledglink aims to help young people of all ages, especially those from disadvantaged and minority groups to develop their abilities, increase their self-awareness, confidence and unlock their inner strengths.

“For most young people starting out in their careers with little or no work experience, there’s not a natural entry point to employment and many barriers stand in their way. Often the ‘real’ professional networks are reserved for the privileged; fortunate young people securing jobs and work experience because of family contacts. Fledglink is breaking down barriers to entry because it’s an equally accessible professional network of support for young people at the start of this overwhelming journey, and because we are holding companies to account around what they are doing to support diversity in recruitment and inclusion once they are hired”.

Ellie Yell

Official launch

Having launched the beta version of the app in December, it’s now being officially launched in January 2019, with full functionality, right across the UK. Fledglink currently has already engaged a wide range of bluechip brands on the app, posting their job vacancies; with more being added each week.

Helen Fuge, the former Assistant Director of Careers at Southampton University and now Head of Talent at one of Fledglink’s customer organisations, comments: “Careers advice has continued to be diluted across the education sector and therefore, there are very few touchpoints for students to identify their potential career paths. Fledglink bridges this gap! Its innovate blend of creative technology and career opportunities provide students with the chance to identify their skills, and research jobs through an app. This use of technology ensures that the careers support is accessible to everyone and encourages students to engage socially with the aim of supporting each other to reach their potential. From an organisational perspective, it provides a quick and effective way of promoting opportunities and accessing a fantastic pool of talent.”

“The connection between psychometric testing and the opportunities is the most exciting aspect, and this offers opportunities for students whose CV’s may lag behind personal potential. I cannot praise it enough and am looking to establish it as a central part of our careers curriculum and guidance programme.”

Chris Panting Co-head of The Ashcombe School

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Fledglink app is available on Android and iOS devices and is available for free download on iTunes and Google Play now. Or visit www.fledglink.com