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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Fuelling Futures: a guide to supporting SEND for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
A practical guide to help employers provide workplace experiences, including supported internships and supported apprenticeships, for young people with SEND.
The Career Discovery Podcast
The Career Discovery Podcast is a free learning platform dedicated to helping young people broaden their career horizons.
Sci4Us Interviews
Sci4Us have launched a video series, challenging professionals to explain their job at 3-levels: primary school, secondary school and GCSE.
Find Your Space: STEM Careers Resources
A careers resource package, featuring videos from a broad range of people working in the space sector along with PowerPoint presentation, teacher resources, student worksheet and ideas for hosting a mini careers event.
Tech We Can, On-demand Lessons
These fun and informative online lessons, delivered by Tech We Can teachers, are aimed at inspiring children aged 8-14 to consider a career in technology.
Immerse Education
Immerse Education offers two week programmes in academic subject development with tutors from the University of Oxford and Cambridge. These take place as a residential programme in July and August, with accommodation provided at the universities, and a full programme of support academic and social activities.
There are also options to take part virtually, with an Online Academic Insights programme that runs for two weeks in December, April and throughout July and August. Although this is a fee-paying programme, we have bursaries available, and offer scholarships based on an essay competition open to all students aged 13-18.
Fulfilling Futures
Developed in collaboration by Complete Careers LLP and Greenwood Academies Trust.
This resource is to help learners to prepare for the challenge ahead from education to employment in a competitive job market. This is primarily an information resource with links to activities, videos, and further reading. It has skills and activities logs, a checklist, and an action plan at the end of the resource to record progress. It is designed for independent use either in school or at home.
Building good practice in careers education - Insights and guidance for training providers
A resource for training providers to give an overview of careers education in England, raise awareness of the value of the Gatsby Benchmarks and share examples of practice from across the sector.
Careerscope - Hospitality Industry Hub
CareerScope is your one-stop-shop for all things careers in the Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Industry.
Our mission is to support people from all backgrounds and ages, attract talent towards the industry, and ultimately, promote hospitality as a great place to work.
Whether you’re a teacher or careers advisor, a student, or a job seeker, we have resources, programmes and support available to help you reach your full potential.
Into Games
Look through over 100 careers in the games industry, with information on educational routes, links to further learning and interviews with professional staff.
An Employers Guide to Supported Employment
Developed by the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTI). This resource is focused on employing people with a mental health condition, a learning disability and/or autistic people.
How to Support Careers and Enterprise Activities in Schools: a Practical Guide for Employers
We partnered with the CBI to undertake research to better understand how employers engage with schools. From this research we have produced this practical guide for employers who want to engage with schools together with a compendium of case studies from businesses.