Opportunity for businesses to engage with local secondary schools

Are you or your employer interested in engaging with local secondary schools? Are you interested in being part of a countywide network of business volunteers? Do you have a skills gap or are you interested in tailoring the development of future employees? Then the role of Enterprise Adviser might be for you.

The Careers and Enterprise Company is a programme which aims to bridge the gap between education and work. It is underpinned by the belief that young people should be given the best support available to develop their careers and to make informed choices about education and employment.

The programme is creating lasting links between schools and employers and enabling senior figures from the local business community – Enterprise Advisers – to help enhance schools’ careers programmes and prepare young people for the future.

Enterprise Advisers help schools to develop tailored careers programmes and build a network of valuable local business contacts. This helps prepare young people for future jobs and careers. Advisers will also be part of a network of over 90 business people from across the county who are working to support schools and young people. 

Simon Ralton, who works for the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital as a Learning & Development Specialist is the Enterprise Adviser for Watford UTC. He has supported the UTC to build up their employer contact base and as a result they are now able to offer their students more employer engagement opportunities such as employer talks and work place visits. This is what Simon said about the programme and what he enjoys about supporting a local school:

‘I enjoy working with the school to identify interactions that benefit students in their future career choice. With this information I use my knowledge, experience, and more importantly my network, to arrange the best way to provide practical information to the students. The enjoyment and satisfaction comes from seeing students engaged and having more information about different careers, some of which they may never have heard of.’

To read more about our Enterprise Advisers, the work they are doing in local schools and why they got involved, visit the Hertfordshire LEP website here:  https://www.hertfordshirelep.c...

For further information about The Careers & Enterprise Company and the role of Enterprise Adviser visit the CEC’s website here: https://www.careersandenterpri... If you are interested to know more or would like to get involved please contact Sarah Bennett, Enterprise Coordinator for Watford, Three Rivers & Hertsmere on sarah.bennett@hertfordshire.gov.uk or call 01438 844290.