Business volunteers wanted to help education
THE SOLENT LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP (LEP) are encouraging business professionals to volunteer as Enterprise Advisers, which will in turn help local schools and colleges link with businesses and inspire young people to develop the skills employers need.
Working in partnership with The Careers & Enterprise Company, which manages the national network, the Solent LEP is recruiting volunteer Enterprise Advisers to work at a strategic level with the educational institutions’ senior management teams.
Business Director, and Chair of the LEP’s Skills Advisory Panel, Rachael Randall said: “We are encouraging business people in the Solent area to find out more about volunteering to become Enterprise Advisers. “It is an extremely rewarding role, which allows professionals to share their experience, knowledge and passion for business with local schools and colleges. As a facilitator for bridging the gap between academia and business, our Enterprise Advisers will give young people an invaluable insight and understanding of the world of work.
“In addition to making a real difference to the future work prospects of young people in the Solent, becoming an Enterprise Adviser will enable them to grow professionally, help them to shape the future workforce in their own business sector and will support their company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals.
She continued: “The Solent LEP encourages diversity and inclusivity from those applying to become Enterprise Advisers, and we especially want to hear from people who are passionate about supporting and working with schools that support children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).
“If you are a business professional, particularly in the science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) industries, please consider volunteering to become an Enterprise Adviser and inspiring young people for the future world of work.”
The voluntary role will focus on evaluating the existing careers and enterprise work taking place at individual sites, and on developing activity plans to ensure that the best local provision can be accessed to prepare their students for future careers. Full training is given and support provided to the Enterprise Advisers during their work.
Enterprise Adviser Jade Fuller, who has been working with the management team at Great Oaks School in Southampton since 2020, said: “Schools and colleges need help from employers and business volunteers more than ever at the moment to ensure that young people don’t miss out on opportunities to experience the world of work.
“Being able to offer support as an Enterprise Adviser is so important to keep the lines of communication between education and employment active. Sometimes just listening to ideas or asking questions to check the activity aligns with wider outcomes can be what the school or college needs, a critical friend with an outside perspective.”
To find out more about the Solent LEP Enterprise Adviser role and how to volunteer, visit: https://solentlep.org.uk/careers-and-skills-hub/become-an-enterprise-adviser/
