Your role: lead the session
Hand out the prepared materials and follow the session steps. The group makes the funding decision during the activity.
The group’s task: decide what gets funded
The participants choose 3 of 6 project options to fund within £6,000 and 40 staff hours. Agree a plan, then explain it in a 2-minute presentation.
Making this choice together is the exercise. The participant pack contains every option, the rules and a decision sheet.
Give to the group · 4 pages
Participant pack
Print pages 1–3 per person and page 4 once per group.
Read online (participant brief, opens in a new tab)Keep for yourself · 4 pages
Leader guide
Run sheet, observation sheet, example plans and discussion prompts.
Read online (private leader guide, opens in a new tab)Before you start
Have pens and blank paper ready. Ask about access needs and agree extra time, a scribe or other adjustments. The observation sheet is page 2 of the leader guide; copy it for observers and keep example plans private.
For online sessions, share only the participant pack and use breakout groups. With several groups, present in parallel or add presentation time.
Lead the exercise
Follow each stage. Move on when your group is ready.
Discuss the experience
Reflect on the decision and how the group worked together.
Welcome and brief
Suggested wording
Session timings
There are several workable plans.
View example plans (private guide, opens in a new tab)About this workshop
An original fictional exercise for practising the group tasks used at assessment centres. A teacher or careers adviser leads the session and provides feedback. The site does not score participants.
The following careers sources informed the general practice approach. Neither university endorses this kit.
Version 1.1 · 10 November 2026. Print and share unchanged for free educational and careers workshops, with attribution to Practice Aptitude Tests.