Take action
There are five main steps to taking action:
1. Getting started
Different employers will want to dedicate different amounts of time and resources to engaging with education. See Ways of working with schools and colleges for more information on this. The Taskforce is particularly keen to see more longer-term and sustainable partnerships develop between employers and education.
Some employees may wish to find out more about the National Curriculum before deciding what they would like to offer; they could also find out about the different types of engagement by looking at the section called Ways of working with schools and colleges.
Useful information contains links to useful websites and downloadable documents.
Having decided what to offer schools and colleges, employers can then make contact with them.
2. Making contact
The most popular way to make contact is to use a broker which many schools prefer as they are not equipped to deal with multiple approaches from employers. There are many helpful organisations that can help to broker links between education and employers and provide more information on specific ways of engaging with education.
Other employers who might have links with schools via employees who have children or who serve as governors at specific schools use these routes to make direct contact. See Contacting schools and colleges directly.
Increasingly, many schools and colleges are working together as part of 14-19 partnerships or consortia and may want to engage with employers in a collaborative way. Local authorities provide the strategic leadership for these 14-19 partnerships and may be able to help employers decide how best they can benefit all schools and colleges in a local area.
3. Agreeing what to do
As a result of discussions with a broker, school or college, employers will have hopefully reached an agreement on what to offer and how best to work together.
At this stage, employers will need to agree with key members of their organisation the resources and support they can commit to providing to the school or college. A business case may be required to put all the information and benefits together. This section contains information on preparing a business case.
It is important to understand the practical implications of working with schools and colleges including: CRB checks, insurance and health and safety.
4. Formalising the partnership with the school or college
At this stage it may make sense to formalise the relationship through developing protocols, agreeing behaviours and nominating key contacts on both sides.
These agreements may need to be updated and reviewed as the partnership develops and to take account of staff turnover.
5. Reviewing and evaluating
Having worked together, it is important that both parties regularly review how they are working together and the support offered to young people. The type of support being offered by the employer may change over time as the school or college recognises how best to make use of the help offered.
All documents that can be downloaded throughout this website are available together on one page: Useful information. This will make it easier for employers/employees who have already looked through the website and know what they need to download.
Visit our Schools campaign
The Taskforce is leading a national campaign to persuade business leaders from all sectors to visit state schools and colleges during the week of the 18 - 22 October 2010 to have a practical and open conversation with head teachers and young people.
Taking part is completely free to everyone and only requires 1 or 2 hours of your time in the week of 18-22 October to visit a school/college in your locality. To register to take part visit: www.visitourschools.org
It will be chance for bosses from private and public sector organisations to hear from school leaders, teachers and pupils about they can help shape the motivation, skills and employability of young people.