Email the Retail Skills Network or call 01275 370920,

Young Enterprise is the UK’s largest business and enterprise education charity and is continually seeking volunteers to act as Business Advisers on a range of exciting programmes for students aged 5-19 years.  Founded in 1963, Young Enterprise’s mission is to “inspire and equip young people to lean and succeed through enterprise”.  Young Enterprise currently reaches more than 291,000 young people a year through the involvement and support of 3,500 UK businesses.  There is no previous experience or expert knowledge required, other than your own experience of work and your enthusiasm. 

You will not be on your own! You will be working alongside teachers/lecturers and in some cases other volunteers on specifically designed programmes. You will receive a volunteer pack containing all you need to know about the programme and how to present/facilitate it. Company Programme requires the support of 2 volunteers who share the responsibilities of the role.  Additional support is available on an ongoing basis and there is a training session before you start.

The time commitment varies depending on the programme, some are five or six sessions others run for an academic year. In the case of the five or six session programmes these can be run either as full days or as shorter sessions over a number of weeks. The programmes that run for one or more academic year require one to two hours attendance a week during term time but this can be split amongst volunteers.

·          Develop and hone your own management skills in a real working environment; in particular

communication, interpersonal and team working skills

·          Gain a holistic view of business by seeing how a small business operates

·          Make a difference to students in your area and build up links with the local community

·          Develop self confidence

·          Use your YE experiences to contribute to some of the qualification requirements of many

professional bodies including ACCA, CIMA, CII, CIPD, ICA, ICSA, IEE, CIB, CIM, CPS

·          Positive impact on the local economy and local employment to ensure better motivated, educated

and enterprising work force

·          Demonstrate the commitment of yourself and your company to Equal Opportunities and Investor

in People

·          Help teachers to keep up to date with current business practice

The North Somerset 14-19 Consortium

Education providers and employers working in partnership to improve the life chances of young people

The challenge

In order to grow, businesses need to attract talented young people into their organisation. One of the ways they can do this is by raising their profile as an attractive, prospective future employer.

The opportunity

The government is introducing a set of Diplomas qualifications into the curriculum.The Diplomas are part of the 14-19 reforms to the curriculum. By 2013 every 14-19 year old will have an entitlement to be able to study one of the Diplomas alongside existing National Curriculum subject areas like GCSEs and A levels. These new qualifications combine practical learning and academic study and will help young people to prepare for further and higher education, training and employment. They will also help shape the future workforce by providing learners with opportunities to build the required knowledge and skills.

Employers have been involved nationally in designing the content of the Diplomas which are based around work and cover all the major employment sectors. We would like to replicate this model locally by inviting you to work in partnership with the North Somerset 14-19 Consortium of schools and Weston College, to develop this new, exciting and vocationally relevant curriculum.

Teaching the new Diplomas

The Diplomas include a significant element of practical and work related learning. This will help to bring the subjects to life and give young people a better understanding of the world of work and the career opportunities associated with each Diploma.

Your advice and support for the development of this approach will be invaluable. Our Diploma delivery model could include site visits, work placement opportunities, on-line case studies, role-play, problem solving exercises, competitions, and interactive multi-media resources. The availability of a new and exciting on-line virtual learning environment for students in North Somerset will widen access to the Diplomas and facilitate discussion forums and on-line mentoring.

How can you get involved?

You could be involved by:

• Participating in a North Somerset Diploma Development Group
• Providing resources and case study information about your business to help students with research
• Working with educational partners to devise problem solving exercises, role play scenarios and other curriculum resources
• Making available a link person who would be willing to respond to phone or e-mail enquiries about a particular vocational area
• Offering a workplace visit
• Supporting school industry days and careers events
• Offering work experience and work placements
• Working with us to create a ‘virtual’ interactive tour of your business
• Running business days for members of school/college staff to support their professional development and update them on the world of work
• Mentoring or e-mentoring students
• Taking part in an on-line discussion forum
• Becoming a school/college governor
• Sponsoring award evenings by providing an award for vocational excellence
• Offering expertise and support for enterprise activities and competitions
• Taking part in mock interviews with young people
• Being a guest speaker at a Diploma teaching session
• Promoting the value of Diplomas to other businesses, parents, learners and practitioners

We can help you by:

·    Increasing student awareness and understanding of business requirements and opportunities in the region

·    Making students aware of career paths that boosts recruitment for local businesses

·    Providing employer access to careers evenings

·    Making available a skills development programme that is responsive to both business and employee needs

·    Providing delivery partners to help in the recruitment process

·    Making elements of the 14-19 programme available for use with employees

·    Enhancing employee training through opportunities to support young people e.g.  practise interviews and mentoring

·    Creating opportunities to consider new ways of doing things by engaging young people in enterprise activities

·    Providing expertise in the field of disability awareness

·    Enhancing the reputation of business in the community

·    Providing access to a range of school / college resources including:

Ø      Conference facilities and meeting rooms

Ø      Sports facilities and fitness suite

Ø      On-line learning resources e.g. Cisco training

Ø      Use of DVD production and sound recording studios to develop training resources

Don’t miss this opportunity to have a positive impact on the life chances of young people. You now have a chance to help our students achieve a qualification that equips them with the skills, knowledge and understanding needed in the world of work.

If you are interested in working with us and would like to find out more please contact Jenny Clark on 07779563749 or Marie Horton on 07825 298415 / 01275 463120

Or e-mail Marie or Jenny at: marie.horton@n-somerset.gov.uk

jennyclark1@sky.com