Other online support
As well as providing online mentors for students, employers can offer online support in other ways, for particular courses and qualifications. For example, products designed as part of the design and technology syllabus can be made for real through online access to a local employer's CNC machine.
Benefits for employers
- Online support is perfect for employers who specialise in the web or for those who find it difficult to travel to schools/colleges.
- Employers can 'reach' schools and colleges that they feel they can help most (e.g. schools that specialise in a discipline similar to the employer's industry). Location and travel time is not an issue.
- Employer organisations that have online mentoring schemes already in place can expand and strengthen these schemes by offering online support.
- Employers can help to support/develop projects that provide students with useful work-related skills that are relevant to their industry.
- Employers can support/influence a large number of schools colleges online - potentially far more than they and their employees would be able to visit in person.
- The employer's profile can be raised among students and the local community.
- Students may approach employers for work in the future.
Benefits for students
- Students find the internet a natural way to communicate and learn new skills. They will be comfortable receiving support in this way.
- Online support is a particularly good solution for rural schools that don't necessarily have easy access to employers in the area.
Getting started
- Contact local schools and intermediaries.
- View a list of specialist schools to find natural links between the employer's industry and a type of specialist school.
- Visit the Take action section on this site, for more information on what to do next.