A Recipe for Success: Bake Off Star Helps Students Secure UCLH Roles

Students and staff were delighted to welcome a familiar face from television as former The Great British Bake Off contestant Lizzie Acker visited our Barnet campus to mentor neurodiverse learners.

Lizzie attended the College as a representative of the Mason Foundation, an organisation dedicated to supporting neurodivergent young people through mentoring, skills development, and confidence-building opportunities. During her visit, Lizzie worked directly with neurodiverse students from IT, Science and Business, sharing personal insights from her journey on Bake Off. The sessions were designed to encourage learners to develop new skills while building confidence in a supportive and inclusive environment.  

The coaching programme has already delivered real-world results. Several students who took part in Lizzie’s mentoring have successfully secured work placements at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, giving them the opportunity to gain valuable workplace experience in a professional healthcare environment.  College staff say the placements demonstrate the positive impact of tailored coaching and mentoring for neurodiverse learners. By combining practical skills with confidence-building support, the programme helps students develop the abilities needed to thrive in the workplace.   Students also had the opportunity to hear Lizzie speak about her own experiences as a neurodivergent individual in the public eye. Her message focused on embracing individuality, building resilience, and recognising the strengths that neurodivergent people bring to creative and professional settings.  

Student Antoni said on the programme: “This programme has helped me a lot and I have learned new things from it – I feel like I’m now ready for the world of work.”  

Student Myles said: “This programme has helped me to be more prepared for the workplace, as I have been able to meet people from different roles within UCLH, and I have discovered what it takes to get employed within those sectors.”  

“It’s brilliant seeing students grow in confidence and go on to opportunities like placements at UCLH. Everyone has their own strengths, and programmes like this help people realise what they’re capable of. It’s important to support students with neurodiversity, they have many unique talents and strengths, but they face more barriers to employment than neurotypical students because of ableism and misconceptions that they cannot do certain things.”

Lizzie Acker, a representative of the Mason Foundation

“Working with organisations like The Mason Foundation allows us to create meaningful opportunities for our students. Seeing learners grow in confidence through mentoring with Lizzie and then progress into placements with partners such as University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is exactly what these collaborations are designed to achieve. It shows the real impact that strong partnerships can have on students’ futures.”  

Adrienne Sheehan, industrial placements manager at Barnet and Southgate College

The visit highlights the College’s ongoing commitment to inclusive education and to creating meaningful pathways into employment for neurodiverse students.

About The Mason Foundation  

The Mason Foundation is a UK charity dedicated to supporting and mentoring neurodiverse young people in reaching their full potential.  

Through programmes delivered in partnership with education providers, the Foundation connects students with mentors, industry partners and real-world experiences designed to develop practical skills and independence. These initiatives aim to highlight the strengths of neurodivergent learners and promote inclusive environments where they can thrive.  

The Foundation also advocates for greater awareness and understanding of neurodiversity, encouraging organisations to create more inclusive opportunities for young people entering the workforce.  

For more information about the Mason Foundation and its work supporting neurodiverse learners, visit their website: https://www.masonfoundation.co.uk/