Employer engagement

Developed by The ASK programme, funded by the Department for Education, these resources support parents understanding.

This resource was created by AET to equip parents to have informed career conversations with their child by providing ongoing access to resources, guidance and key sources of information that will support them. 

Developed from the original Toolkit from the Gatsby Foundation, this toolkit is based on research exploring how institutions can best support parents to help young people make informed careers and education decisions. It includes colour coded identifiers to help you find the right support, wherever you are on your parental engagement journey. 

As part of The Gatsby Foundation’s work supporting parents to have careers conversations, ‘The Making of…’ films were produced, showing that as a parent, you don’t have to understand the detail of every careers in order to give your child the support they need. 

Some of these resources may be useful to signpost parents to as part of your engagement activities. 

These sites are recommended by practitioners and are not endorsed by The Careers & Enterprise Company.  

Help parents understand their child’s careers education journey, the key decision points and how and when you will be offering them support using these visual journey’s.

Follow four families talking to their children about next steps, helping your parents think about the role they can play in their own child’s decision-making.

Simple animated films, to help parents understand the range of options open to their children at 16 and 18.

Re-orienting the usual parents’ evening to offer an opportunity to discuss education and careers choices as well as progression. Includes preparation activity for parents who need more support.

A low-pressure session where families complete the Family action plan or Pathway planner with support from school or college staff.

A Q&A session with a panel of employers to encourage parents to explore careers relating to a particular subject, skill or industry area with their child.

An activity which builds on students’ first one-to-one meeting with the Careers Adviser, with a second meeting between the Careers Adviser, the student and their parents.