The Life Lab – Real-World Skills for Students
“It teaches the things we all had to figure out the hard way. I’d have jumped at this if it had existed when I was in school.”
“My child came home talking about budgets, business ideas, and AI tools… and actually teaching me things. I never had anything like this growing up!”
What is The Life Lab?
Empowering future-ready learners through AI, financial literacy & life skills.
01
Money & Mindset
Financial literacy, budgeting, advertising awareness, and entrepreneurial thinking.
02
Tech & Tools
Intro to AI, prompt engineering, creative projects with image and chatbot tools.
03
Leadership
Teamwork, career pathways, public speaking, emotional intelligence and leadership.
The Life Lab complements what students learn in school by focusing on the real-world skills that help them feel more confident and prepared. From understanding money and using AI tools to building communication and leadership skills, our programme empowers young people to explore their strengths and take ownership of their future — in a way that’s practical, engaging, and fun.
Why schools choose us
The Life Lab is designed to align with Ofsted’s ‘Personal Development’ goals and supports key areas of the curriculum including PSHE, Computing, and Careers education. Created by a team of educators and industry experts, the programme is delivered by DBS-checked mentors trained in inclusive and engaging facilitation. It offers flexible delivery options — whether during the school day, after-school, or online — and every student who completes the programme receives a Life Readiness Certificate.
How it works
Life Lab is delivered through weekly 60-minute sessions, either on-site or virtually, depending on your school’s preference. Each term concludes with a student showcase, giving learners the chance to present their work and celebrate their progress. Schools also have the option to run a free pilot or taster session, making it easy to experience the programme with no commitment upfront.
Who we are
The Life Lab is powered by Echios; a world-leading training organisation. We work with schools, universities, and top-tier firms to deliver coaching and development programmes that create measurable behavioural change. We’ve trained CEOs, run graduate programmes for finance and tech firms, and now bring our expertise to young people.
Our Approach
Helping young people grow in confidence, creativity, and future-readiness
The Life Lab is a 10–12 week enrichment programme designed to equip students with the skills they need to succeed beyond the classroom.
We blend AI fluency, personal finance, and emotional intelligence to help students build confidence, capability, and purpose.
Our Team of Tutors
Hannah Merriman
Hannah brings over 10 years of experience in teaching, training, and coaching, with a warm and engaging style that makes learning memorable. She leads several of our programmes at Echios, helping students and professionals alike build confidence, communication, and real-world skills. Hannah has delivered training for global firms like JP Morgan and Nomura, but what she loves most is helping young people discover their potential through interactive, hands-on learning.
Sanjay Bhandari
Sanjay is a seasoned technology and business leader with over 20 years of experience guiding global companies through innovation and transformation. As CTO at Echios, he brings a deep understanding of tech, leadership, and talent development — and a passion for empowering others to reach their full potential. Sanjay has coached executives at firms like Bank of America, Nomura, and Brevan Howard, and is a sought-after speaker on topics like teamwork, inclusion, and future skills. At Life Lab, he helps shape forward-thinking content that inspires the next generation to lead with confidence.
CK Bhaumik
CK is a highly experienced software engineer and trainer with over 20 years of expertise in tech, coding, and business systems. He’s known for making complex topics like cybersecurity and AI easy to understand and fun to explore. CK has delivered tech solutions and training around the world, and brings a passion for emerging technologies like cloud computing, machine learning, and blockchain. His clear, engaging teaching style helps students build confidence with the tools shaping the future.
Neel Shah
Neel is a passionate and experienced financial educator who’s spent over a decade making finance and digital concepts clear, practical, and engaging. He’s trained professionals at major firms like JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and HSBC — but what drives him most is helping learners build confidence with real-world money skills and data thinking. Known for his adaptable and charismatic style, Neel makes complex topics accessible and fun for young minds preparing for their future.
Priya Mehra
Priya is an experienced professional, revered in the financial services industry. She has a notable background in training senior leaders and industry experts across esteemed companies such as Harvard, Bank of America, Natixis, Wolters Kluwer, A&M, JP Morgan, Nomura and Brevan Howard. Her unwavering dedication to promoting women’s empowerment and spearheading diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives is evident in her role as the Head of DE&I and Women’s Empowerment.
Mark Anderson
Mark is Head of Professional Skills and has been delivering high-energy, powerful training and coaching in the finance, tech, and consulting sectors for the last 5 years. His clients include Brevan Howard, Harvard, Kingstreet Capital, JP Morgan, Alvarez and Marsal, Bank of America, Nomura, Winton Capital and many more. Mark has helped hundreds junior individuals, developing the foundational skills they require to hit the ground running and start their careers with a clear trajectory for long-term success.
Hear It From Our Students
Before Life Lab, I didn’t even know what AI really was. Now I’ve built my own chatbot!”
Nella Balducci
“We got to design a project that could actually solve a real problem. It made me feel like I can really do something important.”
Klara Del
“Before Life Lab, I didn’t even know what AI really was. Now I’ve built my own chatbot!”
Tom Peterston