Villiers Park and Roku pledge to work together to empower young people with key career skills  

Villiers Park and Roku, a pioneer in TV streaming, are proud to be working together to inspire the next generation of leaders in STEM, technology and entertainment.. Our exciting new partnership will ensure that young people from under-represented backgrounds have access to the expertise, education and insights needed to embark on innovative career paths. 

This partnership will reach  young people throughout the 2024/25 academic year, with Roku playing a key role in supporting the Future Leaders programme, with a particular focus on Cambridge and Norwich. Through employer insights, interaction with Roku employees and firsthand experiences of the world of work, students are introduced to new possibilities which help to develop vital skills. These interactions broaden horizons for young people, making future career pathways into some of the world’s most dynamic industries become clearer. 

We are thrilled to have already started collaborating with Roku. Earlier this month, we welcomed Josh, Zsofia and Matthias to North Cambridge Academy and Coleridge Community College as part of our Enrichment Partnerships Pilot (EPP) where they delivered inspiring talks to over 300 students about how their hobbies and extracurricular interests have helped to shape their personal and professional lives. These assemblies lay the foundation for students to develop their own enrichment activities, benefiting their peers and wider school communities.  

Scavenger hunt on Roku TV

And last Thursday, 15 students from The Hewett Academy in Norwich visited Roku’s Cambridge office with employees who introduced them to the wide variety of roles available. Through a careers panel and networking exercise students were able to learn more about individual career journeys and the key skills they would need on their own, including everything from internship applications to how to search for opportunities. Roku colleagues also shared valuable advice, encouraging curiosity, learning through mistakes, and practicing coding to build expertise.  

Advice from Roku employees to young people starting their career journeys: 

“Learn from your mistakes but don’t be afraid to make them” 

“To get into development read as write as much code as you can, you with learn by doing”  

“Be curious” 

 Career Panel with Zsofia Horvath, Adamn Brosan, Tim Granger, Andrea Monge and Nick Brook

“At Roku we are committed to transforming pathways for students from under-represented communities by creating programs that develop future generations of talent into our industries. We are pleased to partner with Villiers Park to help us further this mission across England.”

Allegra Armas, Social Impact Project Manager at Roku

“It’s been great working with Roku, on both the Enrichment Partnerships Pilot, and our visit to their impressive office in Cambridge. We are thrilled that Roku are committed to supporting young people in Norwich and Cambridgeshire develop their skills and offering valuable insights into future career opportunities in fields like Science and Technology.” 

Megan Broughton, Villiers Park’s Programme Coordinator for the East of England

“Our partnership with Roku is a fantastic opportunity to give young people from under-represented backgrounds real, hands-on experiences and connections with industry professionals. Not only inspiring them to realise their potential but also equipping them with the career skills and confidence to succeed.” 

Gaby Sumner, Villiers Park Chief Executive