Two million students’ careers boosted by contact with business
More than two million young people across the UK are now regularly meeting employers and learning about the world of work, according to new research published today.
The Careers & Enterprise Company’s State of the Nation report shows the nation’s young people are benefitting from a new world-class approach to careers guidance, supported by growing numbers of employers seeking to engage young people.
The research shows the number of schools and colleges running regular encounters with employers has surged by 70 per cent, from less than a third two years ago (31%) to more than half this year (52%).
More than 150 businesses and 2,000 people from the business community are now part of a network run by the Careers & Enterprise Company, working with schools and colleges to help young people build their employability skills, become better prepared for the world of work and improve their life chances. These include large and small national and local businesses.
Companies backing the approach include Axa, Aviva, Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, E.On, KPMG, PWC, Seddon, Bosch, Lloyds, Marshall Tufflex and Willmott Dixon.
With uncertainty around Brexit and concerns about skills shortages moving rapidly up the business agenda. Employers are achieving a win-win by inspiring young people while helping develop home-grown talent.
The research also shows disadvantaged areas are now among the highest performing areas in the country for careers education.
The new approach to careers education targeted areas of disadvantage as an early focus for investment and support. That investment is paying off as disadvantaged areas are performing strongly.
Among the best performing areas in the country are Black Country, Cornwall, Tees Valley and Humber.
A new model is now emerging showing where the right investment is made, areas of disadvantage can perform on a par with, if not better than, the rest of the country.
In 2017, the government’s Careers Strategy tasked secondary schools and colleges with working towards a new set of international best-practice standards called the Gatsby Benchmarks.
The approach means young people are having real exposure to the labour market as a part of a new and reset approach to careers support. The work brings schools, colleges, business and young people together to work in a new partnership and drive forward improvement locally – and it is reaping results.
Research has shown regular interactions with employers mean young people enjoy greater resilience and self-confidence, spend more time studying, achieve better grades, are less likely to be unemployed and are likely to earn more in later life. This is because of the inspiration, skills, network building and support employers can bring.
After long-standing under-performance, the nation now has a coherent and comprehensive career programme and has led countries like Hong Kong and Spain to look closely at what is being done. England’s model is now exporting to other countries.
The State of the Nation report shows that performance has accelerated over the last year. Across the country, schools and colleges have improved in every aspect of their careers provision.
