Encounters with employers and employees
Every pupil should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes.
What good looks like
Every student should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes, and should include students’ own part time employment where it exists.
- Every year, from the age of 11, pupils should participate in at least one meaningful encounter* with an employer.
- Every year, alongside their study programme, students in colleges should participate in at least two meaningful encounters with an employer. At least one encounter should be delivered through their curriculum area.
- Colleges should record and take account of students’ own part time employment and the influence this has had on their development.
*A ‘meaningful encounter’ is one in which the student has the opportunity to learn about what work is like or what it takes to be successful in the workplace.
Why this matters
“Links have been demonstrated between young people’s engagement with the world of work through career talks and their GCSE attainment.” Motivated to achieve: How encounters with the world of work can change attitudes and improve academic achievement – Education and Employers
“a young person who has four or more meaningful encounters with an employer is 86% less likely to be unemployed or not in education or training and can earn up to 22% more during their career” Motivated to achieve: How encounters with the world of work can change attitudes and improve academic achievement – Education and Employers
Careers Leaders:
Getting started with BM5
- Be clear about priority careers knowledge, understanding and application based on student needs and school priorities. Use this to shape and communicate planned intent for all employer encounters.
- Set clear learning aims and outcomes for all employer encounters by following the Making it Meaningful Checklist.
- Refer to the LLEP Employer Engagement Guide and seek support from your Enterprise Co-ordinator in building long-lasting relationships with local businesses who can support you in the delivery of meaningful employer encounters.
- Use the resource and support featured in the My Learning My Future and My Skills My Future Guides to encourage curriculum staff to use employer encounters which highlight the relevance of subjects and specific learning to engage students and support progress.
Training
All Careers Leaders require Outstanding training
For further support with Benchmark 1 register for our fully funded Careers Leader training
Download our Training Catalogue which includes all the information you need and a helpful comparison guide on the 11 high-quality Training Providers we work with. Here you will be able to choose the right course to suit you and your development, so that you can embed a successful careers programme in your school/college.
Once you have chosen the right course and Training Provider for you, you are all set to register!
Careers in Context: Can Do Approaches
To include an activity under Benchmark 5, it must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Learning outcomes are defined, based on the age and needs of students
- The encounter involves two-way interaction between students and employers/employees
- There is evidence that the student actively participated
Opportunity:
Maximise the value of employer encounters by setting clear learning aims linked to school priorities for all employer encounters
Practical resource and support:
- Consider using this template ‘Proposal’ document to make a case to SLT for time, resource, support for careers guidance
- Connect with providers who can support you in facilitating bespoke employer encounters to respond to the specific needs of your cohorts and region
- Apply the principles of the Making it Meaningful checklist to planning for all employer encounters
Education Leaders and Governors:
Education Leaders and Governors: For further information on each Benchmark, to support you in your role, please see the Education Leader, Secondary and College Governor Guides
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Spotlight Talks & Videos on Careers – WorldSkills UK
Shining a light on skills for today and the exciting challenges of tomorrow. With a focus on technical education, apprenticeships and skills, this resource seeks to support students with the early steps of career development planning. Working with industry leaders, WorldSkills UK brings you high-quality on-demand video content which will excite your students.
Passport to Retail
Developed by Inspiring Worcestershire. Passport to Retail has been designed with the student’s progression at the forefront. This brilliant project will take students on a tour around the Retail industry, learning about key areas from customer services to stock rotation to build their knowledge and skill in preparation for the workplace.
Panjango Trumps
Panjango Trumps is the fun way to explore the world of work!
Our unique twist on the classic Top Trumps game pits 50 different careers against each other in a battle of stats.
NatWest Dream Bigger Webinars
A series of three webinars aimed at developing entrepreneurial skills in young females aged 16 – 18 yrs.
My Week of Work: Wednesday
Introducing the world of Marketing. These lessons cover innovative thinking, creativity, marketing campaigns and promoting yourself as a brand.
My Week of Work: Tuesday
Introducing the world of Human Resources. These lessons cover work/life balance, dealing with stress at work and self-reflection, considering which careers options would suit you.
My Week of Work: Thursday
Introducing the world of Recruitment. These lessons cover the skills employers look for, how businesses recruit, entrepreneurship and project planning skills.
My Week of Work: Monday
An introduction to My Week of Work and the sector options for students to explore: creative digital, engineering, construction, energy and renewables and health and social care. The final session of the day gives an insight into the world of work.
My Week of Work: Friday
These lessons explore what it means to be an effective leader, how to create an impactful CV and recognise and demonstrate employability skills. The week is completed with some reflection – what could be your next steps and how to prepare for discussions with a careers adviser.
My Skills My Future
This programme has been collated from resources across our partners and network to support young people with SEND under the 2 groups identified in the SEND toolkit. It contains lessons around employability skill development , employer projects and engagement videos all to support young people in their next steps.
My Learning My Future: ‘Careers Leader’ Guide
This guide is for ‘Careers Leader’ and is to accompany the subject specific My Learning My Future resources. There is also a PowerPoint already scripted to help you deliver a short training session to all staff on how to use these resources.
My Learning My Future: Textiles
My Learning, My Future is a suite of resources that has been developed in partnership with The Careers and Enterprise Company and Skills Builder to help you speak confidently about careers related to your subject as well as the various pathways and skills needed by employers.