Why should employers get involved in education?
Employers can impact the education of young people in many ways, for example, becoming a governor of a school, contributing to a standards consultation or by offering an apprenticeship. However, many employers find it beneficial to their professional development and the growth of their company to offer work-related learning opportunities to students.
As part of Creative & Cultural Skills mission to ensure education meets employers needs we ask employers to become involved in work-related learning as part of our projects including the Diploma in Creative & Media, and the National Skills Academy.
What is work-related learning?
Work related learning describes any activity that brings students into contact with the world of work, or work related issues. It is not a work experience placement, but a much broader range of activities, and a way of delivering learning.
"What sets work-related learning apart is that is provides innovative solutions to the traditional cost and capacity issues employers have faced when offering work experience." Skillset
How can employers benefit from delivering work-related learning?
- Staff can develop and extend skills in working with young people
- New relationships can be developed across organisations and in the local community
- Employers can identify and nurture talented reducing recruitment and training costs
- Employers can build a reputation as a progressive employer
A whole range of activities can be classified as work-related learning which means an organisation or business of any size can get involved.
"Work-related learning plays a vital role in young people’s journey to a successful adulthood and is a key part of our reforms to the curriculum and the new Diplomas. It helps young people connect their learning with the world of work, develop the employability skills that employers value, build their enterprise capability, and make more informed choices about their career options…
Employers play an essential role in delivering work-related learning, for example by opening their workplaces for visits, giving career talks in schools, including business mentoring, and providing work experience places for students. All of these activities help to prepare young people for their future working lives and open up a full range of career opportunities that they might not have been aware of otherwise" Jim Knight Minister for Schools and Learners
How do young people benefit from work-related learning?
Since 2004 work-related learning has been a statutory requirement for students in Years 10 and 11 in England and Wales, and Years 11 and 12 in Northern Ireland, (age 14 to 16). Work-related learning can enable students to:
- Recognise, develop and apply their skills for enterprise and employability
- Learn about the way businesses and organisations operate
- Develop an awareness of the range, extent and diversity of local and national employment
- Use their experience of work to extend their understanding of the sector opportunities
- Relate their own abilities, attributes and achievements to career intentions and make informed career choices
- Engage with new ideas, challenges and applications from the sector
What are the opportunities for employers to get involved in Creative & Cultural Skills projects
The Diploma in Creative and Media
The Diploma in Creative and Media offers a chance for employers to engage with young people as creators, participants, receivers and consumers of cultural life. It provides a unique opportunity for organisations to influence the kind of learning that young people experience; to ensure that they are developing the knowledge, skills and behavior that will benefit the sector. Half of the principal learning component (the new content) of the Diploma must be delivered by work-related learning therefore employer’s involvement is vital to the Diploma’s success.
To find out which schools in your area offer the Diploma in Creative & Media, and to get linked up with a school or college visit one of the following organisations for advice:
The National Skills Academy
Get involved by planning how you could work with schools and colleges when the NSA launches in 2010. www.nsa-ccskills.co.uk
The Diploma in Humanities
Get involved by planning how you could work with schools and colleges to deliver the Diploma for its launch in schools in 2011. www.humanitiesdiploma.co.uk
Practical advice
For practical advice for employers about how to plan work-related learning activities download our factsheet here.