When you volunteer to become an Enterprise Adviser with your business, you are offering our regional young people opportunities to explore your business sector and those skills needed to work in it.
Continue reading to discover two fantastic real life examples of how local employers are providing workplace experiences for Leicester and Leicestershire students and see how you can take a proactive approach to securing your future workforce.
Providing a World of Work tour – Blueprint Interiors
The company’s Chairman and Founder, Rob Day volunteers as an Enterprise Adviser for the LLEP Careers Hub. As an Enterprise Adviser (EA), Rob provides advice to the school about careers and works alongside LLEP’s team of Enterprise Coordinators to help young people gain an experience of the World of Work to bolster their future careers.
Recently he invited 15 students and teaching staff from Lancaster Academy for a full day of activities at Blueprint Interiors HQ. This was part of the school’s ‘R.E.A.D.Y’ (Respect, Employability, Accountability, Diversity, and Young Ambassadors) careers programme which the Ashby-based company who are huge advocates of business and education partnerships are keen to support through close working with senior leaders and careers teams within schools.
Explaining what the students asked the team about, and what it taught them in return, Project Administrator Apprentice, Francesca said:
“We were able to tell students about why we enjoy what we do and our opinion on further education. We explained to them the differences between sixth form and apprenticeships. I feel that apprenticeships should be spoken about more in school. We feel very lucky to be involved in such an inspiring project and look forward to continuing our partnerships with Lancaster Academy and the LLEP.”
Students started by touring the office and learning about the company culture. They then met with members of the team from each department, including Projects, Design, Admin, Finance, and Sales. The main aim was to provide plenty of opportunities to ask questions and learn about the varied roles that are available in the interior design and construction industries.
Providing meaningful encounters with employers – Willmott Dixon
National contractor Willmott Dixon has delivered a one-of-a-kind enrichment programme for almost 600 students at Redmoor Academy in Hinckley which met the Leicestershire school’s career requirements but also showcased the construction sector and its wide-ranging opportunities. Delivered across three days, the free programme is part of a robust careers strategy and was created by Marie Wilkes, head of Social Value at Willmott Dixon and Enterprise Adviser to the Redmoor Academy,
Marie said:
“The team really pulled together to deliver this programme – with five members of our business, from quantity surveyors to environmental and sustainability managers, attending each day to give students a real insight into the construction industry.”
The session gave an overview of the construction industry as well as introductions to the Willmott Dixon team and their career pathways. Following a Q&A session, the students were split into groups of four and created 60 mini-construction companies, where they were tasked with different roles to plan, cost, and build a green village.
Marisa Westaway, Career Lead and Assistant Vice Principal at Redmoor Academy, said:
“Working alongside Marie and the Willmott Dixon team has been a fantastic experience – It was a real pleasure to see our students inspired, collaborating and enjoying bringing their creative vision to life – which resulted in some excellent and well thought out presentations. We look forward to working with Willmott Dixon again in the future.”
Find out how your business can take a pioneering approach to building young people’s best next steps. Contact the Careers Hub team today to find out how you can volunteer to help.
You can also start the conversation with your child by accessing the 2023 World of Work Guide here