Effective employer engagement Making best use of employers in career learning? Tristram Hooley, Professor of Career Education, University of Derby

A vision for career support Overview The role of employers Key roles A vision for career support

A vision for career support Overview The role of employers Key roles A vision for career support

OECD definition Career guidance refers to services and activities intended to assist individuals, of any age and at any point throughout their lives, to make educational, training and occupational choices and to manage their careers… The activities may take place on an individual or group basis, and may be face-to-face or at a distance (including help lines and web-based services). (OECD, 2004)

Key features information provision career assessments and tests career counselling careers advice delivered by a non-careers professional curricular interventions further study/work-related learning other extra-curricular interventions frameworks for reflection. Development of careers education and associated theory as an integrative framework for these activities

The current infrastructure for careers School based provision (underpinned by the statutory guidance) Local authority targeted services NCS (Inspiration agenda) Careers & Enterprise Company Jobcentre Plus in schools HEFCE & Offa Information sources e.g. UCAS & NAS LEPs Charities Careers & Enterprise Company

Good career guidance (Gatsby) A stable careers programme Learning from career and labour market information Addressing the needs of each pupil Linking curriculum learning to careers Encounters with employers and employees Experienced of workplaces Encounters with further and higher education Personal guidance

A vision for career support Overview The role of employers Key roles A vision for career support

Who can you get support from? Young people Teachers Employers Careers professionals Parents Other support e.g. Scouts & Guides

A vision for career support Overview The role of employers Key roles A vision for career support

10 things that really matter Brokerage is essential Understand what works Understand what is in it for employers Size matters Understand what is in it for schools Link to career and enterprise provision within the school Understand what is in it for young people Don’t waste my time Deal with the health and safety worries Get in for the long haul

#1 Brokerage is essential Education and employer links don’t just happen. They require prolonged effort. It is difficult for schools to manage employer liaison directly. The existence of a brokerage agency, brokerage professionals and a brokerage system are therefore critical. You make it all happen!

#2 Understand what works

#3 Understand what is in it for employers Solving skills shortages Recruiting the right people Developing the workforce Growing a responsible brand Employers motivations

#4 Size matters Large organisations find it easier to work with schools that smaller organisations. But… most people work for smaller organisations. Think about how far the employers that you are working with are representative of the economy. What can you do to involve smaller employers?

#5 Understand what is in it for schools Schools have a statutory duty to provide career guidance. This covers the provision of employer interactions. Ofsted are attending to school’s careers and enterprise provision more than in the past. Parents are also enthusiastic about careers and enterprise provision. Good careers and enterprise provision supports many of the core objectives of schools: attainment; school engagement and progression.

#6 Link to career and enterprise provision within the school The school’s career and enterprise provision is where young people make sense of the employer engagement experiences that they are having. Do you know what the school’s programme looks like? How are you helping them to develop it to accommodate and make use of more employer engagement activities?

#7 Understand what is in it for young people Improved motivation Improved contextualisation of learning Improved attainment Greater understanding of career pathways Clarification of career aspirations Improved chance of making a positive transition Remember: There are benefits for employer interactions at all ages. Not just 14+ where most of the activity currently takes place.

#8 Deal with the health and safety worries Both schools and employers are risk averse. No one wants to get in trouble for things that they don’t have to do. You need to understand liability and be able to advise on responsibility for health and safety checks and safeguarding.

#9 Don’t waste my time Both employers and schools are time poor. Think about how much time you are asking them to give. Remember that brokerage should make things quicker and easier to do.

#10 Get in for the long haul Good relationships between schools and employers aren’t made over night. Building long lasting relationships is more important than achieving flashy ‘quick fix’ interactions. If in doubt think ‘how can I make sure that these people are still speaking in three years time?’

References Bimrose and colleagues (2014). Understanding the link between employers and schools and the role of the National Careers Service. London: BIS. Deloitte. (n.d.). Helping Young People Succeed: How Employers Can Support Careers Education. London: Education and Employers Taskforce. Gatsby Charitable Foundation (2014). Good Career Guidance. London: Gatsby. Hooley, T. (2014). The Evidence Base on Lifelong Guidance. Jyväskylä, Finland: European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (ELGPN). Hooley, T., Marriott, J., Watts, A.G. and Coiffait, L. (2012). Careers 2020: Options for Future Careers Work in English Schools. London: Pearson. Hallam and colleagues (2015). The Role of Brokerage Within Career Guidance: A Literature Review. London and Derby: SQW and the International Centre for Guidance Studies, University of Derby. Hutchinson and colleagues (2012). Developing Business. Developing Careers: How and Why Employers are Supporting the Career Development of their Employees. London: UKCES. The Careers & Enterprise Company. (2016). What Works in Careers and Enterprise? London: The Careers and Enterprise Company.

Summary The current policy model requires effective careers provision to be driven by schools. The Gatsby Benchmarks provide a strong framework for school’s provision. Within this there are a range of complementary and overlapping roles. The employer role is a very important part of this. But employers need to be treated well and used intelligently if everyone is going to benefit from their involvement.

Tristram Hooley Professor of Career Education International Centre for Guidance Studies University of Derby http://www.derby.ac.uk/icegs t.hooley@derby.ac.uk @pigironjoe Blog at http://adventuresincareerdevelopment.wordpress.com