Learn Innovation.
Earn Money.
Stand out from the crowd
Want to get ahead of everyone else? Join our SuperSquads to stand out from the crowd, and get paid in the process! You get a reference from us that you can use for applying to sixth form colleges and Unis.
Want to join a SuperSquad?
Leave us your details and you'll be put on our waiting list.
GET PAID TO BRING YOUR IDEAS TO LIFE
CASH MONEY
You will earn between £125 and £150 for a 6 week project. Yes, we pay you!
REFERENCE FOR CV
You will be working with Startup Sherpas and will receive references from us.
NEW FRIENDS
There will be 100 teenagers in your SuperSquad. You will be a part of a community sharing this experience.
BUT WHAT WILL I BE DOING?
Here is an overview of a typical project. The client sets a theme and a problem space. The squad then sets off, completing missions that follow a tried and tested innovation process. The missions are fun and varied. No two days will be the same! All the way along you will be learning 21st century skills that we know employers are looking for.

WEEK 1
Complete initial missions to share your opinion on the chosen theme.

WEEK 2
Start using some tried and tested ideation techniques to jump start your creativity

WEEK 3
Ideas are nothing unless you share them with someone! Time to be brave and see what other people think.

WEEK 4
Ideate it again! This time you will build on your ideas.

WEEK 5
Learn to articulate ideas…through posters, webpages, press releases…

WEEK 6
Unleash the power of the SuperSquad. The community will vote on their favourite ideas and we will get those ready to pitch to the client!!
WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING PART OF SQUAD?
TIPS FOR A GREAT APPLICATION
RECORD A VIDEO
Video helps us get to know you faster.
Doesn’t need to be an Oscar winning performance. Scrappy and raw is fine. So be brave and go for it. Only the Startup Sherpas team will view your video
WE DON'T RECRUIT ON ACADEMICS
It is more about you as a person. More personal statement than CV.
You are the only you in the world so tell us about you, what you love, what you hate, what being a Squad member means to you.
DON'T OVERTHINK IT
Everything we do on Startup Sherpas is time-boxed, usually to 25 mins.
Same goes for your application. Don’t spend all day or all evening on it. Get out your phone, record a video and then get on with enjoying your day!
WHAT IS AN INNOVATION PROJECT?
PEOPLE GET PAID TO COME UP WITH IDEAS??!!
Yes, people get paid to come up with ideas. Companies are always looking for new ideas to help attract new customers or to support existing customers in new ways. Most larger companies have dedicated innovation departments to work on projects like these. Some will fail (that is the nature of innovation!) but some will launch to market and be successful.
100% VIRTUAL WORK EXPERIENCE. HOW DOES IT WORK?
YOUR WORKSPACE:
KEEPING YOU ON TRACK
We set you missions day by day that guide you through our process. Sign in and go to your Workspace to find the projects you are on, and to see your instructions.

YOUR MISSIONS:
DAY BY DAY
We set you missions day by day that guide you through our process. Sign in and go to your Workspace to find the projects you are on, and to see your instructions.

FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS
Our missions are a bit like a recipe, with numbered instructions you need to follow. If you need to download something to print (don’t worry, you can just draw your own version if you want), then you’ll be given everything you need at the moment you need it.
