Benchmark 5
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, and should include students’ own part time employment where it exists.
What does it entail?
- Every year, from the age of 11, pupils should participate in at least one meaningful encounter with an employer.
- Every year, alongside their study programme, students in colleges should participate in at least two meaningful encounters with an employer. At least one encounter should be delivered through their curriculum area.
- Colleges should record and take account of students’ own part time employment and the influence this has had on their development.
What are the minimum requirements?
- Learning outcomes are defined, based on the age and needs of students.
- The encounter involves two-way interaction between students and employers/employees.
- There is evidence that the student actively participated.
Why is this important?
Links have been demonstrated between young people’s engagement with the world of work through career talks and their GCSE attainment.
A young person who has four or more meaningful encounters with an employer is 86% less likely to be unemployed or not in education or training and can earn up to 22% more during their career.
Tips for employers
» Build links with local schools and be prepared to reach out to both special and mainstream schools. Being rooted in local communities helps enhance your business reputation and diversifies your talent pool.
» See this as a long-term investment. Building relationships with local schools will help deliver sustainable high-impact programmes.
» Promote encounters as an exciting new staff development opportunity and a way of aiding retention, increasing motivation and attracting new recruits.
» Ensure that learning outcomes are agreed with the school ahead of all encounters so that interventions support delivery of career learning outcomes from their career programme and ensure that all staff are well briefed about expectations and school protocols.
» Develop a shared approach with the school to plan and judge the general effectiveness of the encounters.
» Explore ways in which both the teachers, students and parents can benefit from the encounters.
» Share approaches and celebrate success within your sector and business networks.
» Accept that success will not look the same to everyone and different routes and technical and academic pathways may be valid.