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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HSBC Resources
HSBC have a number of resources available to support young people when thinking about their career pathways from work experience opportunities to activities to support them in thinking about the different pathways into a career at HSBC.
IGD Educator Hub
Our free lesson plans, activities and videos will develop students’ employability skills to help them prepare for the world of work and increase students’ awareness of the variety of roles within the food and grocery industry.
Inclusion mag for Employers
The Careermag for Inclusion series is designed for employers who do not currently work with young people with SEND. It showcases case studies of success to inspire employers to get involved and highlights the benefits for the young people and for the business.
Innovation Challenge
Learn about the design, process and implementation of The Doncaster Innovation Challenge – an inter-school competition aimed at meeting Gatsby Benchmarks 4 and 5.
Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI)
IMI Autocity is the one-stop-shop for impartial careers information and advice on careers in the Automotive Industry.
Free teaching resources, lesson plans, competitions and toolkits.
LLEP Employer Engagement Guide
Developed by the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership the purpose of this guide is to help your school or college to build long-lasting relationships with local businesses to enhance the interventions your students receive throughout their time at your establishment.
Making it Meaningful: Benchmark 7
This resource supports Careers Leaders to embed encounters with providers of all routes available to students at key transitions within a progressive careers programme.
The following guiding principles will support an approach to Benchmark 7 and to Provider Access Legislation, whilst being aligned to Benchmarks 1 and 3 including setting aims, planning meaningful delivery and impact evaluation of activity.
To accompany this resource, watch the film to hear from educators, providers and young people about the impact these principles can have in a range of settings.
My Environment My Future
Green Section: My Environment My Future (MEMF) is a free schools programme which embeds knowledge, resources and guidance on careers within the built environment directly into the delivery of the GCSE and A-level geography curriculum. Since launching in May 2020, over 260 teachers across the UK have engaged with MEMF and the programme is currently launching for the next academic year.
It is completely free to register and download the resources. For more information on MEMF, please visit My Environment My Future – Connecting the curriculum to the built environment career (memf.careers).
My Learning My Future: Art and Design
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.
My Learning My Future: Biology
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.
My Learning My Future: Business Studies
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.
My Learning My Future: Chemistry
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.