Plea to help transform careers education for young people

The search is on for Herefordshire volunteers to link up with colleges and schools as part of a national project helping prepare young people for the world of work.

A network of Enterprise Advisers has been developed across the region, with volunteers including employees, self-employed and recently retired people, taking on a strategic role within a school or college to bridge the gap between education and the workplace.

The Careers and Enterprise Company is working with the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and Herefordshire Council through its new Careers Hub to change the way young people are helped into career choices.

Eden Ihle-Vance, Marches LEP Careers Hub Lead, said: “We are hugely grateful to a number of employees who are already volunteering as Enterprise Advisers, helping to prepare young people into the world of work.

“We would like to grow this network in Herefordshire and are urging employers and their staff to consider how they can give back to their community by supporting the development of careers programmes on their doorstep.”

The Careers Hub is especially interested in hearing from people working in the Marches region’s key business sectors of food and drink, cyber security, advanced manufacturing, environmental technology, health and social care, business and professional services.

Eden added: “We know young people are one of the groups most affected by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. As the economy starts to recover, it’s really important they know what fantastic opportunities are out there and that they are supported into making informed career choices.”

Advisers use their business experience and professional networks to help develop and implement an effective careers strategy that puts opportunities with local employers at the heart of a young person’s education.

Enterprise Advisers can come from different industry sectors and professional backgrounds, be that employed, self-employed or recently retired.

Advisers are supported by a trained, full-time Enterprise Coordinator and have access to a range of practical resources. They can also benefit from peer support from other volunteers and broaden their network of contacts further.

To get involved and register your interest visit https://enterpriseadviser.careersandenterprise.co.uk/ or contact Karen Banks, Herefordshire’s local Enterprise Coordinator on: karen.banks@herefordshire.gov.uk