A new discussion about how we can better support young people into education, employment and training has highlighted the importance of starting earlier.
Alan Milburn, who is leading the Government’s review into youth employment, has suggested that primary schools should identify children who may be at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) later in life. His comments have prompted discussion about how earlier intervention could help young people who may otherwise become disengaged.
At Island Careers Partnership, we welcome the focus on early exposure to the world of work, while recognising the considerable pressures already facing schools. Helping young people understand their future options cannot sit with schools alone.
Businesses have an important part to play too
You don’t need to be a large organisation or have a formal careers programme to make a difference. Simply giving a young person the opportunity to meet people at work, hear about different career journeys or see what happens in a local business can help make the world of work feel more familiar and accessible.
There are lots of ways businesses can get involved:
- Insight days – give young people a chance to see your workplace and understand what different roles involve.
- Taster sessions – introduce students to an industry, skill or career through a short, practical experience.
- Employer talks and careers conversations – share your own career journey and give young people the chance to ask questions.
- Workplace visits – help students see how the subjects and skills they are learning at school are used in real jobs.
- Work experience and placements – provide a more hands-on opportunity to experience the workplace.
- Mentoring and longer-term relationships – help young people build confidence and understand the different routes into careers.
These experiences can be particularly valuable for young people who may not have family or personal connections to certain industries. Meeting someone who works in an area they have never considered can open up possibilities they may not otherwise have known existed.
A local example
A recent request from Barton and Godshill Primary Schools provides a great example of what this can look like in practice.
The school told us that many of its children don’t necessarily consider ambitious jobs or understand the wide range of careers available on the Island. They want children to start understanding from an early age that there are lots of different routes into careers and that they have options.
The school is planning a careers event for June, with the aim of making it interactive and age-appropriate. Ideas include a careers ‘passport’ or hunt, encouraging children to find people who work outdoors, in the sky or in different types of roles, alongside opportunities to ask questions and discover careers they may not have considered before.
The school is also looking for employers who could offer more in-depth workshops, Q&A sessions or interactive activities based around the children’s individual interests. Can you help? Contact us for more information
It is a simple but powerful way of helping children start to see that their future options are much wider than the careers they may already know about.
What can your business offer?
Supporting careers education doesn’t have to mean committing to a major programme. It could be an hour talking to children about what you do, welcoming a group into your workplace, running a practical activity or simply sharing your own career journey, including the twists and turns that got you there.
Schools are already looking for these connections.
Could your business help young people discover more about the world of work? Your time, experience and enthusiasm could help a young person see a career they hadn’t considered before.
Island Careers Partnership is here to help connect local businesses with schools and other partners to create more opportunities for young people to explore the world of work.