Solihull Careers Hub welcomes guest speaker

The guest speaker at the recent Solihull Careers Hub meeting was Jayne Hume, Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce relationship manager.

As careers professionals, one of the biggest challenges is employer engagement. Jayne provided a business perspective and discussed some interesting ideas on how schools and businesses can work collaboratively.

Jayne said: “ “It was a pleasure to be invited to speak to the Careers Hub Leads this week and giver insights in how schools and businesses can develop and sustain productive partnerships that not only contribute to the pupils and local community but the UK Economy in the long term. Exciting times for school and businesses to support each other as many new ways of working and opportunities have emerged post pandemic. ”

Solihull Careers Hub works collaboratively with the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce to bridge the gap between education and businesses, supporting schools and colleges to forge stronger working relationships and partnerships with local businesses.

Many businesses in Solihull are committed to working with schools and colleges to give young people a taste of the world of work. Solihull Careers Hub brings them together effectively to benefit both sides. Businesses get the chance to shape their future workforce while young people gain vital skills, experiences and insights into the labour market and plan their future careers.

Schools are recognising a need to adopt a symbiotic and transactional approach to working with businesses. When students can relate what they are learning to the world of work, they find purpose and become more engaged.

Schools with a comprehensive careers education programme reportedly have all round better outcomes and fewer NEETs. Employer engagement broadens their horizons and enables them to see the possibilities.

Sharon Butcher-Johns, Careers Guidance counsellor at the Arden Multi-Academy Trust, said: “At the moment we can visualise a school/business partnership where students work with you on special projects involving, for example, health, clean energy, sustainability or responsible consumption and production.

“Our students could provide a unique insight into new and existing markets, and they could ultimately become a source of labour. Increasingly, for various reasons, students are deciding to pursue employment post-18 and we know that businesses are struggling to recruit; perhaps increasing students ' understanding of the economic landscape, before the enter the world of work, would be a long-term gain for business.

“It 's worth a conversation with your local school and we at Arden would ask you not to mind your own business but make us part of it. ”

Pictured: Arden Multi-Academy Trust