Why should I do it?
Because you will:
- ensure that new recruits come through with the right skills and attitudes
- challenge any stereotypes about the engineering and manufacturing sector
- enhance the company's reputation in the local community
- reduce training costs
- get an opportunity to influence the curriculum
- gain access to fresh ideas through the original thinking of young people.
Because your employees will:
- enjoy increased self-esteem and self-confidence
- further develop their communication skills
- become more motivated and responsible
- feel a greater degree of loyalty to the business.
What can I do?
It depends on your locality, your industry, and your own company priorities, but the range of activities means that there’s something suitable for every company.
Use the suggestions below to inspire you, then click on the recommended activities for more information...
Who can help me?
- As an EEF member, why not contact your local EEF Association to see if it is able to put you in touch with educational establishments and activities in your area? EEF is a strong supporter of business engagement with education, as we recognise the value of giving young people and companies the chance to meet.
- Your local SETPOINT can help you get involved in activities to promote science, engineering, mathematics and technology. SETPOINTs are specially selected organisations skilled in facilitating education and business links. SETPOINTs primary function is to ensure that all young people, teachers, schools and colleges, in their region, have easy access to an extensive and balanced portfolio of high-quality STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) curriculum enhancement and enrichment opportunities. Visit www.setnet.org.uk for more information.
- The National Education Business Partnership Network is also there to help you make contact. 126 Education Business Partnerships exist across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. "Education Business Partnership" means a partnership between educational and business organisations aimed at developing and promoting sustained links for the benefit of students, local schools and colleges. They promote and support a range of activities, including enterprise, teacher placements, and work experience. Visit www.nebpn.org for more information.
- The National Forum for Engineering Centres Network can help keep employers connected to providers, and engaged with the delivery of engineering technical education. Visit www.nfec.org.uk for more information.
- The Higher Education Academy Engineering Subject Centre has created "A Guide to Working with Schools", written for HE academics, but with some useful information for anyone wishing to engage with schools. Download it here.
Activities and Schemes
Support the Science and Engineering Ambassadors (SEAs) programme.
What’s in it for my company? Being an Ambassador is a chance to make a difference in your community, increase the profile in your industry and further develop your own communication and presentation skills through a nationally recognized and established programme.
What does the SEAs programme involve? The Science and Engineering Ambassadors Programme (SEAs) is SETNET’s (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network) flagship programme. Ambassadors are individuals from a wide variety of STEM backgrounds who offer their time and expertise to help schools inspire young people and act as invaluable role models to students. Anyone who wants to become a SEA will need to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check, which will be managed by their local SETPOINT and will need to attend an induction session.
More information: www.setnet.org.uk
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Support a science or engineering competition/activity
What’s in it for my company?
The range of activities run by enthusiastic and reputable organisations is extensive. By supporting one of these, you have the benefit of fitting in with an established programme, which will usually have resources and staff for you to utilise.
What does supporting an activity involve? This of course depends entirely on the activity, but it might mean becoming a “Make” or “Test” Centre for a model Formula One Car, helping students build a battery powered car as part of the Greenpower Challenge, or taking part in an Imagineering Fair. For companies particularly interested in encouraging more young women to consider a career as an engineering technician, supporting EEF’s WISE Outlook programme is an excellent start.
More information: for information on local activities, contact your local SETPOINT. Many national activities to promote science, engineering and technology are now part of the Learning Grid (www.learninggrid.co.uk) , which quality assures activities. See the WISE website at www.wisecampaign.org.uk
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Offer company visits
What’s in it for my company?
A well-run company visit can give young people a real insight into the engineering and manufacturing sector and the opportunities it offers. The company benefits by raising its profile in the local community, and offering staff the development opportunities related to organising such an event. You may also meet some potential recruits…
What does offering company visits involve? Activities at the company usually cover no more than a single day, indeed many visits require only a half-day’s activity on-site. Of course, you might want to do more, following up the visit with further activities to support the curriculum.
More information: visit the EEF/DfES/Caterpillar Foundation site on “Safe Workplace Visits” at www.safevisits.org.uk . See the Industrial Trust’s website at www.industrialtrust.org.uk Contact your local SETPOINT or EBP to find schools keen to visit companies.
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Offer work experience
What’s in it for my company?
By taking a young person for work experience, you have the best possible opportunity to “sell” your sector and occupational opportunities. Work experience can help a young person make up their minds about what they want to do, where they want to work, and the type of skills and abilities they will need for working life. You might also meet a future employee!
What does offering work experience involve? Most work experience in schools takes place in “Key Stage 4” – ie the young person will be aged 14-16. This will normally be a two week placement in the summer term of Year 11. Of course, colleges and universities are also looking to provide placements for many students, which can range from a week to a year (for “sandwich” courses).
More information: Trident Trust help arrange work experience for thousands of young people every year – see their website at www.tridenttrust.org.uk If you are interested in taking a young person for a structured year’s placement before they go to university, or as part of a degree programme, contact the Year in Industry at www.yini.org.uk . Education Business Partnerships (EBPs) also organise placements (collectively over 300,000 per year) The National EBP Network will be able to help you identify your local organiser, visit www.nebpn.org or telephone 01635 279914. The Engineering Subject Centre has produced a useful guide to Industrial Placements - download it here. In 2007, the CBI published guidance on how employers can use their programmes to improve employability - download it here.
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Offer teacher/tutor placements
What’s in it for my company?
When a teacher can relate their subject to something in the “real world”, it gives the subject a new relevance. Teachers also need to keep their knowledge up to date, in order to be sure of teaching their subject accurately. Teachers can also contribute strongly to projects and company activity, bringing a fresh perspective to business problems. A placement can also mean close and more effective links to local educational establishments, by building the personal networks which so many activities require.
What do teacher/tutor placements involve? It depends on the programme, but placements can basically start at the level of “extended visits” for a day, to longer programmes which last for weeks or months. They can be full-time, if the programme is funded at “secondment” level, or they might involve regular attendance of a half-day or day at the company. The teacher/tutor may simply wish to experience life at the company on a day-to-day basis, or may be involved in specific projects designed to enhance their experience, as well as the company’s.
More information: HTI run secondments which last from 6 weeks to 12 months – see www.hti.org.uk . NFEC can also help source appropriate schools/colleges, and broker placements to ensure proper CPD activity. They also support development of real work projects of value to the employer and the school/college. (www.nfec.org.uk). EBPs broker shorter placements of 1-5 days. See www.nebpn.org for further details and case studies. The National EBP Network is also currently working with the Royal Academy of Engineering specifically to provide short placements for teachers for find out more about engineering career opportunities for young people.
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Support after school clubs
What’s in it for my company?
Young Engineers Clubs are well established and supported by a national network. By building relationships with young people over a period of time, a company can raise its profile in the local community, as well as inspiring young people to consider a career in the sector.
What do after school clubs involve? Many are working on projects such as F1 in Schools, the Engineering Education Scheme, and CREST Awards (see “Support a science or engineering competition/activity). Clubs may meet weekly or monthly, and help young people explore the exciting world of engineering and technology outside the constraints of the curriculum.
More information: See the Young Engineers Clubs website at www.youngeng.org
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Take part in careers events
What’s in it for my company?
Showing young people what it is like to work at your company, and giving them an insight into career opportunities, means that young people will hear about careers from someone enthusiastic and up-to-date on current opportunities. In addition, companies with apprentice programmes might be able to recruit directly through these events.
What do careers events involve? It depends on the event, but you might be asked to staff a promotional stand, talking to students and parents on an individual basis. Or you might be part of a programme of speakers, making a presentation to a larger number. Either way, you should have the chance to “sell” both a career in engineering and manufacturing, and a career at your company!
More information: contact your local Connexions Service through the National Association of Connexions Partnerships www.nacp.co.uk
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Engage with the 14-19 reforms
What's in it for my company? Learning for 14-19 year olds is to change, with more emphasis on vocational opportunities. Your company can help shape this new agenda.
What does engaging with the 14-19 reforms involve? New Specialised Diplomas are being introduced in Engineering from September 2008. These will need the support of employers to ensure young people are able to study exciting and relevant aspects of engineering. Specialised Diplomas also require a strong element of work experience and contact with companies through visits, etc. Another recent development for 14-16 year olds is the Young Apprenticeship scheme, offering young people the chance to stay at school but study vocational subjects and qualifications for a couple of days every week, at a college, training provider, or employer.
More information: the Specialised Diploma in Engineering has its own website at www.engineeringdiploma.com and has produced an employer toolkit for supporting the diploma here.
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Offer curriculum support
What’s in it for my company?
By showing young people how the science and technology subjects they are learning at school can be applied in real life, you can make these subjects much more enjoyable. And the more enjoyable the course, the more likely it is that a young person will choose to continue to learn, and perhaps go on to a career in engineering and manufacturing.
What does curriculum support involve? A school or college offering science, engineering, mathematics or technology courses will have the particular qualifications they teach already agreed, but the way in which it is taught can be flexible. You might come to the school to help deliver some of the lessons, supporting the teacher/tutor. You could provide ideas for projects, or materials for use in the classroom. Even non-technical subjects, such as geography, history or English, might need input from local companies to give students a wider experience.
More information: contact your local school or college and ask to speak to the relevant Head of Department, or use your local SETPOINT or EBP.
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Support curriculum development
What’s in it for my company?
By engaging with education at the fundamental level, you will be influencing the actual learning of young people. While it’s unlikely you will be able to change the content of nationally recognised qualifications (such as GCSE) unless you engage directly with the awarding bodies and Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, most of the curriculum for young people aged 11-14 does not relate directly to qualifications. And after 16, many colleges are keen to engage with employers to be sure the courses they offer to young people and employees are of real value to them in the working environment.
What does curriculum development involve? You will need to consider the end product first – what kind of outcome do you want from the learning? Curriculum development often begins with “outcome” statements, such as “able to calculate formulae” or “is competent in basic bench skills”. Curriculum development also includes consideration of assessment (ie how the learning will be measured).
More information: contact your local school or college directly, or go through your local SETPOINT or EBP. NFEC also engages with employers and awarding bodies to ensure qualifications are a good “fit” for employer needs (www.nfec.org.uk)
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Support Role Models
What’s in it for my company?
Role Models are just that – good examples of people who have found exciting and rewarding jobs. By allowing your staff to become role models in a publication or on a website, you are recognising their achievements, and also promoting your own company as a place where people can accomplish their goals.
What does becoming a Role Model entail? The process of becoming a Role Model will usually involve the employee completing a questionnaire or being interviewed. The text is usually then “approved” by the individual (and sometimes the company) to ensure there are no inaccuracies or misleading elements. They may be periodically updated. Role Models can be at any level of a company, and at any stage of their career. The idea is that their experience and insight helps young people to see what can be achieved by “people like them”.
More information: ETB is currently looking for Role Models for its scenta website, and you can register at www.scenta.org.uk (Careers - Role Models). The WISE Campaign is also keen to recruit women in science and engineering for its Role Model activity – see www.wisecampaign.org.uk
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Support mentors
What’s in it for my company?
Encouraging your staff to mentor a young person in education is a powerful way for them to develop skills beyond the technical. The work of mentors can also be highly valued in the community, which sees the personal support of an individual reflecting well on their employer.
What does mentoring involve? A mentor acts as a role model and helps the pupil to think about what they might aim for, within and beyond school. The pupil has the chance to build a relationship with an adult who is not an authority figure. Mentoring supports young people who are not achieving as well as they might, those who lack parental support, and those who need encouragement to broaden their outlook, raise their ambitions and gain confidence.
More information: mentoring organisations such as the Mentoring and Befriending Organisation many be able to help (http://mandbf.org.uk/) . Otherwise, your local SETPOINT or EBP may know of local schemes.
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Sponsor a secondary school to become “Specialist”
What’s in it for my company?
Depending on how much you are able to give, you may be able to nominate a governor for the school. You may also able to influence school policy in terms of curriculum.
What does sponsorship of a specialist school involve? There are now specialist schools in Engineering, Technology, Science, Business and Enterprise, and Mathematics with Computing. To become Specialist, a school has to raise £50,000 from the private sector and build long-term beneficial relationships with industry. You don’t need to give the full amount; you can co-sponsor with other companies or make a contribution towards this target amount.
More information: contact the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust at www.specialistschools.org.uk to find out about schools in your area that are looking for funding.
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Support staff who want to become a school or FE governor
What’s in it for my company? While school/college governorship requires significant commitment from the individual, the employer gains from the insight into education. Employees can also gain important skills in financial management, negotiation, communication, etc.
What does governorship involve? For the individual, the estimate is 6 hours a month of time spent on preparation (eg reading and preparing reports) and meetings.
More information: information on becoming a school governor is available online at www.governornet.co.uk
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Support the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative
What’s in it for my company? Taking part in such a major programme has financial as well as CSR benefits. The aim is to rebuild or renew every secondary school in England over a 10-15 year period. BSF is an opportunity to showcase innovative, inspirational design, and to demonstrate how it can impact on education standards and the quality of life within schools.
What does Building Schools for the Future involve? BSF is the 15-year programme to rebuild or renew every secondary school in the country. The government is looking for high-quality, sustainable projects and services. Successful partners will be those that are able to demonstrate an understanding of the broader requirements of local communities and supply chains.
More information: DfES website at www.bsf.gov.uk
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Engage with Higher Education on research and development
What’s in it for my company? Many higher education institutions (HEIs) are keen to engage with employers to support their research activity. By working with the HEI, employers can benefit from new thinking and ideas, without the expense of a full-blown graduate recruitment and training programme.
What does engaging with HE on R&D involve? Many large companies have their own arrangements with local universities and centres of excellence in HE. For smaller firms unable to resource such an arrangement, a scheme such as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) can manage projects of one to three years in length. KTP will help you identify a suitable institution and students for your project, and will manage the entire process.
More information: see the KTP website at www.ktponline.org.uk
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Text updated 17 April 2007