The UK Government’s Department for Education (DfE) published their Careers Strategy: making the most of everyone’s skills and talents in December 2017. It set out a series of measures to be implemented during 2018-20 to improve careers guidance in England. Although focused at school and FE level there is reference to supporting graduates into skilled employment, and we keep abreast of such changes as they will impact graduate recruitment in the coming years.
The HE-level Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework, which has highlighted the vital connection between higher education and future employment by explicitly recognising providers which have high proportions of graduates going into highly skilled employment will also change the careers guidance landscape.
But why are we telling you about this?
As the strategy states: “Employers are integral to great careers advice. We need employers of all sizes, and from all sectors, to provide encounters that inspire people and give them the opportunity to learn about what work is like and what it takes to be successful in the workforce. These activities could include work experience or shadowing, workshops or talks run by employers, or other activities that develop the skills needed to deal with business challenges.”
As a small company ourselves, and as a company that works between education and many other employers we feel it our duty to actively support this agenda. One of our three core themes for the year (Partnership, Employability & Reach) sees us continuing to support employability work in Universities and Colleges helping connect the worlds of education and employment. We also encourage our employers to take an active role in supporting the next generation into work…
If you are interested in doing more you can get engaged… offer work experience; work with your local schools, colleges or University; mentor students; recruit new talent…
Here’s how
Here are some of the organisations you might be interested to know a bit more about:
Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC)
The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) provides a coordinating function for employers, schools, colleges, funders and providers and to provide high impact careers and enterprise support to young people (aged 12-18). If you would like to get involved, or become an Enterprise Advisor, take a look: https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/employers/get-involved-business
Mentor a student
See our recent posts on this for more information:
Recruit a Graduate
We would recommend this one! Especially if you do it via www.gradsouthwest.com
National Careers Service – SW
The National Careers Service provides careers information, advice and guidance to young people and adults online, alongside a range of tools that individuals, parents and schools can use. We have recently started working with the National Careers Service – SW to advertise your roles through their advisor network.
CareerPilot
Careerpilot is a free website providing one-stop careers information for 13-19 year olds, parents and advisors.
CSW Enterprise
CSW Enterprise work in partnership with a range of education providers and businesses to support young people to raise aspirations and access opportunities to create the workforce of tomorrow. They deliver a range of exciting and innovative activities aimed at both young people and businesses to create opportunities for young people to understand the world of work.
For those that want to know even more about the Careers Strategy…
If you want to read the Strategy it is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/664319/Careers_strategy.pdf
The Strategy aims to deliver on research developed by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation to set a standard of excellence. It is based on eight Benchmarks of good career guidance:
- A stable careers programme. Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by students, parents, teachers, governors and employers.
- Learning from career and labour market information. Every student, and their parents, should have access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser to make best use of available information.
- Addressing the needs of each student. Students have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each student. A school’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout.
- Linking curriculum learning to careers. All teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. STEM subject teachers should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of future career paths.
- Encounters with employers and employees. 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.
- Experiences of workplaces. Every student should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks.
- Encounters with further and higher education. All students should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both academic and vocational routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace.
- Personal guidance. Every student should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a career adviser, who could be internal (a member of school staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available whenever significant study or career choices are being made.
Links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/664319/Careers_strategy.pdf
https://www.gradsouthwest.com/careers-advice/news/lessons-for-2018-after-reviewing-our-year-we-set/97/
https://www.gradsouthwest.com/careers-advice/news/student-graduate-professional-get-involved-in-m/89/
https://www.gradsouthwest.com/careers-advice/news/action-planning-getting-the-most-out-of-mentorin/98/
https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/home
https://cswenterprise.co.uk/
http://www.careerpilot.org.uk/