Skip to main content

 

Appeal for businesses to join education programme and inspire young people’s career aspirations

Last updated 17 September 2019
bookmark Add to bookmarks
Sarah Burch

Appeal for businesses to join Enterprise M3 education programme and inspire young people’s career aspirations

Could you or your colleagues prepare and inspire young people for the fast-changing world of work? 

The Enterprise M3 skills team is urging any employers who would like to provide opportunities for their employees around education and young people for the 2019/20 academic year, to get in touch and join the team of Enterprise Advisers.

The Enterprise Advisers can really add value to a school or college careers’ service by providing a perspective on what businesses are likely to be willing to do and what opportunities businesses would value.

Employers who become Advisers will be supported by Enterprise Coordinators who engage with schools and colleges, providing advice and guidance on activities that will give the best outcome for all parties involved.

Together, the team helps schools and colleges build a careers programme that will have the greatest impact on preparing their young people for the world of work. This is done in collaboration with education providers, local authorities, and employers.  

Former actress and school Assessment Compliance and Exams Officer, Sarah Burch (pictured), is an Enterprise Co-ordinator. 

My role is so vast and challenging. It includes presenting, problem-solving, project-management. As a former actress, it played to my strengths because of the opportunities to present and build rapport.

The Enterprise Coordinators and Advisers really make a difference. They bring into schools the opportunities that are out there, so young people know what’s available. We are a lynchpin between schools/colleges and businesses.

An Enterprise Adviser works strategically with a school to open up opportunities for young people to gain interview skills, CV experience, meet employees who are doing roles, and taken different career pathways, through their business network.  They may also support focus groups, such as disengaged boys to give them experience of apprenticeships, as an example, as an alternative career pathway.  

It’s not just about giving to the college or school, our advisers get satisfaction and grow their own skillset. It’s challenging but extremely rewarding. 

Employers also benefit from learning about their future workforce, provide their own employees with CPD, and are giving back to their community as part of their own Corporate Social Responsibility.

The team works with 20 schools and colleges over three areas and would like ad hoc volunteers as well as a senior member to give strategic help, which involves regular contact and working with staff on the school’s/college’s development policy.
Any employers who would like to engage with education to provide community action opportunities for their employees, identify their future talent workforce and develop their outreach programmes should contact skills@enterprisem3.org.uk
 
*The Careers and Enterprise Company are releasing Compass+ to support secondary schools from September 2019. This is a new tool to help schools’ benchmark, manage, track and report on their careers programme. It will include a partner directory for careers leaders to identify education providers who can support their school careers activities. To get details on how to register your expression of interest on this directory please contact skills@enterprisem3.org.uk

Collaborate with us to connect with organisations, people and ideas