Could you volunteer a little time to make a difference to the future career choices that a young person makes by supporting a local school or college improve careers outcomes for young people. There are so many ways you can support your local school or college, whether that be in person or virtually. Sharing your career journey can be powerful. Your insights, unique industry knowledge and experience can make a difference to the options a young person considers for their future career. You could be the role model who changes a young person's life, just by showing what is possible.
Description
This Pledge is to encourage employers to make a difference to the futures of young people in Lancashire.
Can you give an hour or two to Help Young People get Work Ready? We need businesses to volunteer an hour or more of their time to help young people prepare for the fast-changing world of work.
Businesses can help to transform a young person’s future by bringing to life different career opportunities, routes, and pathways. By providing insight about the skills young people need to be work-ready and successful in the workplace you can inspire them to look at a career within your sector.
Evidence shows that regular and meaningful engagement with employers while at school can significantly increase young people’s employment prospects and future earnings.
Employers are already engaging with thousands of young people across the country, but more employers need to come forward to work with schools and colleges for every young person to get the support they need. Activities can include interview practice, mentoring or working with a teacher to bring a lesson to life.
This Pledge emphasises the importance of tapping into the career opportunities, skills and knowledge of businesses and businesses of all shapes and sizes are encouraged to get involved.
Benefits to Businesses
The Help Young People get Work Ready Pledge is a great way to give something back to your community and ignite your team at the same time.
It helps give young people in your area the skills and knowledge that they need while also potentially finding new recruits for your business.
By becoming involved, you can shape the future leaders in your community.
What does it involve?
What can you do in an hour or two? It might feel like an hour is too short to have a real impact, but we know from experience that an hour can create new perspectives and inspire new ideas.
You could speak to a class about your sector, play a role in a business competition, carry out a mock interview or support a CV workshop.
Even these short activities make a big difference and can change a young person’s life.
Paul Spencer, Managing Partner of Haworth Chartered Accountants in Accrington, is a volunteer Enterprise Adviser who is partnered with St Christopher’s High School, Queen’s Road West, Accrington, to give students careers advice.
He said: “Working with local colleges and schools is extremely rewarding. Not only do we help to inspire young people, we can make a real difference to their lives, and help produce future leaders for our sectors. I would encourage any local business to get involved – giving up an hour or so is really nothing when you consider the enormous benefits to young people.”