Listening to young people - what Historic Royal Palaces learned through Purpose Lab

Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) has taken part in a series of engagement opportunities with young people to test their perceptions of the sector and its work. 

The sessions are part of the Purpose Lab – an initiative that brings together students from universities and colleges with employers to shape responsible business strategies and social impact initiatives. The programme is designed to give young people real-world experience while helping organisations test ideas, challenge assumptions and co-design more inclusive approaches.

Across these sessions, HRP heard from a diverse group of students from universities and colleges across the UK.  

What emerged was both encouraging and challenging. At the start, many students associated HRP mainly with historic buildings, tourism and formal visits. But once they had explored the organisation in more depth, their perceptions shifted significantly. Students began to see HRP as a modern, purpose-led charity working across education, conservation, digital storytelling, community engagement and inclusion.  

A strong theme across all four sessions was visibility. Students responded positively when HRP’s wider purpose was made explicit - not simply preserving heritage, but making history accessible, relevant and meaningful to people now. They were particularly engaged by examples of education work, outreach, digital content and the organisation’s efforts to widen access. In other words, the more HRP connected its work to public benefit and present-day impact, the more students understood its relevance. 

Another clear finding was that young people want participation, not passive information. Whether discussing careers, work experience, youth engagement or charitable impact, students consistently asked for authenticity and interaction.  

They want real tasks, direct contact with staff, honest stories about career journeys, and opportunities to ask questions in a two-way setting.  

That was especially clear in conversations about work experience. Students were enthusiastic about the potential of online and hybrid offers, but only where they feel meaningful. Watching videos is not enough. They want structured programmes, live interaction, practical activity, feedback and outcomes they can use on a CV. Many saw the greatest potential in hybrid models that combine the accessibility of online learning with the confidence and immersion that come from being on site. 

The sessions also highlighted barriers that cannot be ignored. Location was a recurring concern, especially for students outside London. Others pointed to a lack of clarity around routes into the organisation, particularly for those from non-history disciplines. Students also spoke openly about the broader barriers they face when approaching employers - lack of networks, unclear expectations, intimidating recruitment processes and fear of not belonging. 

There were some recurring themes for HRP. Young people are interested in its mission and excited by its potential, but they want that purpose translated into accessible language, visible pathways and practical opportunities. They want to see who benefits from HRP’s work, how that impact is created, and where they might fit within it. 

Purpose Lab exists to create exactly these kinds of conversations, where employers and students are brought together to solve real problems and build more inclusive pathways into opportunity. For HRP, the sessions have shown the value of listening closely to young people and using their insight to shape future thinking on engagement, access and impact.