LEP seeks businesses to give teachers lessons in the world of work

The Solent LEP's Careers Hub are calling on organisations across the region to offer work experience to school staff

The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership's (LEP) Careers Hub are appealing to businesses and organisations across the region to offer work experience to school staff, including teachers, so that they can develop their knowledge and understanding of different industry sectors and career routes available to their students.

Brooke Hoskins, LEP director and Skills Lead, said: "Deepening the relationship between classroom teachers and employers is critical for our region, as helping young people find their best next step from education into employment is a shared mission for teachers and business.

"Teachers can inspire young people about career paths through the relationships they build with their students and the curriculum they teach. Businesses can reach the next generation and help build the talent pipeline they need for success through working with teachers to ensure they are well versed in emerging trends in a fast-changing world."

The Solent LEP is working with the Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) to launch the Teacher Encounters Fund, which explores how to effectively bring greater awareness of career pathways into mainstream education. The Solent LEP's Careers Hub are calling on organisations in the Solent region to support this innovative collaboration. Employers are being asked to take part in as small or large way as possible, with encounters potentially varying from a one-off half day virtual connection, to hosting a one day/one week 'work experience'.

Benefits for businesses who take part include increasing their own understanding of the ever-changing educational landscape, linking careers to curriculum, and bringing relevance to their industry. Business will help to influence school staff who, in turn, will better prepare students and enhance their awareness of skills and how these are relevant in business today. It will also help businesses to recognise some of the barriers to employment that young people often experience and the challenges that schools, special schools and colleges face in making the workplace relevant to their pupils.

Brooke Hoskins continues: "We need local employers to help make this happen, and in return we are committed to supporting them to develop a tailored offer that will enable them to develop stronger relationships with local schools and colleges. This type of relationship building will help to improve the impact and return on investment of their outreach, and helps to secure a future, knowledgeable and skilled workforce."

If any businesses or organisations in the Solent region would like to know more about the Teacher Engagement programme, please contact the Solent LEP Careers Hub team by emailing careers@solentlep.org.uk to arrange a phone call.