• Nearly half (45%) of UK parents worry that their child's career options will be so different to their own, that they won't be able to advise them

• A third (30%) say they’re unable to confidently talk about jobs in AI

• A new game has been created, to help facilitate conversations

• The Hyundai Great British School Trip is also offering a first-of-its-kind virtual lesson, led by space scientist, Dame Dr Maggie Aderin

New research has revealed a growing disconnect between parents and the fast-changing world of work, leaving many unsure as to how best advise their children about their careers.

Commissioned by Hyundai Motor UK as part of its Great British School Trip programme, the research highlights the challenges families face in keeping up with the rapidly evolving job market. It found that 96% of UK parents believe the world of work will undergo dramatic changes over the next decade. Yet nearly half (45%) admit they feel unable to guide their children on career choices at all, and almost a third (30%) say they’re ill-equipped to discuss emerging fields such as AI, robotics, and space exploration.

At home, career conversations between parents and children often focus on familiar paths, with STEM (23%) and sports (22%) being the most discussed. However, the influence of digital culture is already shaping young minds, as ‘gaming’ comes up in 18% of conversations and notably, one in six children aged 7 to 8 say they aspire to become ‘social media influencers’.

As children's career dreams evolve and at-home conversations increasingly focus on modern career paths, over 4 in 5 parents (83%) believe school trips play an important role in shaping their child's career aspirations. However, Hyundai recently discovered that many of these valuable experiences are being cancelled due to families not being able to afford them, leaving children at risk of missing out.1

Ashley Andrew, President of Hyundai Motor & Genesis UK, commented: “Now in our third year of The Hyundai Great British School Trip, we’ve seen how powerful real-world experiences can be in preparing young people for the future of work. Knowing over a quarter of parents would like more guidance on future career paths, and with everything else teachers juggle, it’s more important than ever to give students early exposure to the careers of tomorrow.”

FIRST OF ITS KIND LESSON

With space exploration an emerging field capturing the imagination of the next generation, The Hyundai Great British School Trip has partnered with the National Space Centre and space scientist Dame Dr Maggie Aderin to offer a first-of-its-kind lesson exploring future careers in space. The experience will be available nationwide as an interactive, on-demand virtual lesson for students in Years 8–9, led by the celebrated space expert, spotlighting the careers shaping space exploration and life on earth.

Dame Dr Maggie Aderin said: "It’s inspiring to see young people already thinking about future careers in science, tech, and digital media. The challenge is helping them explore these fast-moving fields in meaningful, hands-on ways. That’s why initiatives like this matter. They spark curiosity and open possibilities. I’m thrilled we can bring this experience to classrooms nationwide, fuelling passions that will shape their futures."

Since launching, The Hyundai Great British School Trip has enabled nearly 150,000 children to experience school trips. Backed by over £3 million in funding, the programme continues to reflect Hyundai’s commitment to supporting educators and families with meaningful opportunities.

FUTURE JOBS TRUMPS GAME

Half of parents (50%) say that encouraging their children to pursue their passions is the most important factor when discussing careers. However, these passions are often linked to emerging roles parents find most challenging to discuss, including being an AI specialist (18%), a social media influencer (17%) and a gamer (16%).

In response, Hyundai has launched the Future Jobs Trumps game – which is a unique, conversation-starting resource for classrooms, homes and travelling. Available for free, here: Free Careers Game and Resources - The Great British School Trip, and designed to inspire creative thinking in a fun and interactive way, the game encourages dialogue about the skills needed for future roles, including being a Cosmic Architect, an AI Ethicist and a Space Explorer.

TAKE PART

The on-demand, virtual ‘space lesson’ is available to schools across the country during National School Trips Week (28th April – 4th May). Schools that take part will also be in with a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to the National Space Centre, this academic year, focusing on the future of space technology. Visit here: Resources and Trip Themes - The Great British School Trip to find out more.

The Hyundai Future Jobs Trumps Game is a fast-paced, quick-thinking game that explores the careers of tomorrow and encourages conversation around jobs you might have never imagined. Suitable for ages 9+. Get your pack here: Free Careers Game and Resources - The Great British School Trip.

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