By partnering with a local secondary school or college, you can use your skills, business experience and networks to help them develop a strong careers programme that supports all students
Description
An Enterprise Adviser is a volunteer from business who works closely with the headteacher or Senior Leadership Team of a school or college to provide strategic support. You will use your business experience and professional networks to help develop and implement an effective strategy that puts opportunities with local employers at the heart of a young person’s education.
Our Enterprise Advisers come from different industry sectors and professional backgrounds, be that employed, self-employed or recently retired. As an Enterprise Adviser you can use your unique business experience to inspire young people and prepare them for when they leave education.
An Enterprise advisor is:
- A business professional who comes from any industry sector or professional background, be that employed, self-employed or recently employed.
- Dedicated to making a lasting impact on the future outcomes of young people.
- Willing to volunteer their time to achieve positive change in local schools and colleges, using core skills including relationship building and being analytical
Benefits to Businesses
Volunteering as an Enterprise Adviser can be incredibly rewarding. You’ll be supported by a trained, full-time Enterprise Coordinator and a range of practical resources to help you in your role. You can also benefit from peer support from other volunteers and broaden your network of contacts further.
It’s a great opportunity to:
- Use your experience and network to inspire young people and improve their chance of getting a job.
- Provide insight into your organisation, industry and the opportunities available in the local labour market.
- Deepen your connection to the local community.
- Build your company’s reputation.
- Develop your own interpersonal and strategy skills.
- Develop your local business network.
- Address skills gaps in the local and national job market.
- Better understand the education sector and the challenges faced.
What does it involve?
Volunteering doesn’t take much of your time and we’ll support you every step of the way. As an Enterprise Adviser you’ll:
- Supporting the school or college’s senior leadership team strategically to develop and evaluate their careers plan.
- Providing a valuable employer’s perspective on how a school or college can embed labour market information and opportunities into the careers programme.
- Engaging with local businesses and employers in your network to put a wide variety of careers opportunities at the heart of young people’s education
There are a huge number of benefits to becoming an Enterprise Adviser, both personally and professionally.
- Undertake strategic planning in a new context
- Develop your skills in communication and strategy development
- Support your local school or college to deliver world class careers guidance to their students.
- Build strong working relationships with your local school or college and provide insight into your organisation and industry.
- Join a national and local network to develop your own skills.
- Give back to your local community.
- Better understand the education sector and the challenges faced.
If this appeals to you, and you are able to give around eight hours of your time a month over one academic year, we’d love to hear from you.
“Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council are keen to support the growth and development of Lancashire Careers Hub. We recognise the important role that local employers have to play in supporting schools and inspiring our young people.
The council are determined to ensure that our young people make the most of their potential, building ambition through the development of informed and inspirational careers education and enterprise programmes.
We are proud to support Lancashire careers hub, growing meaningful engagement between students and employers as part of a structured and coherent offer, benefiting both the students”