Doncaster Council

How links are achieved

Business & Education South Yorkshire (B&E-SY) is the lead strategic body established to develop education business links in South Yorkshire. They have the responsibility for developing a cohesive South Yorkshire Consortium of delivery organisations which include business dynamics, CITB, Open Industry, SETPOINT and Young Enterprise. It has the backing and the support of the Learning and Skills Council and other strategic funders in the region.

They link the education and business communities to provide 15 - 19 year olds with a wide range of relevant, high quality, structured experiences of work. They focus on areas of activity where the business community can make a real difference to curriculum delivery. They encourage, develop and maintain an environment in which partnerships between education and business can flourish by:

• setting up and co-ordinating close working relationships between education and business.i
• increasing the direct involvement of the business community in educating the next generation workforce.
• cultivating in young people an understanding of, and an enthusiasm for business and industry.
• equipping young people with the employability skills that are required by the business community.

How the business community can become involved and benefit

Employers and their staff can participate by

• providing work experience placements
• hosting an industry visit
• speaking at career events
• participating in career panels and mock interviews
• supporting curriculum projects
• providing professional development placement opportunities for teachers
• acting as mentors
• serving as school governors
  

Key benefits by businesses involved in education business link activities include

• enhancement of a company profile
• contribution towards, or retention of a quality standard
• provision of staff development opportunities
• opportunity to market products and services
• help raise awareness of young people to the world of work
• help raise awareness of future employment opportunities
• advise on educational needs of the future workforce
• familiarisation with the current education system/practices
• gaining access to fresh ideas through the original thinking of young people      

A document was produced in December 2008 outlining the benefits to businesses and universities in having links with schools.

It can be downloaded here. 

Benefits for education

For Schools:

• provides business links for schools, encouraging businesses to work with schools in a way that fits in with their priorities and timing
• provides development of Management and Leadership       

For Teachers

• personal/professional development
• accreditation/certification
• curriculum development
• labour market awareness       

For pupils

• improving learner motivation and attendance
• preparing them for the world of work
• enhancing the delivery of the curriculum
• developing key skills including problem solving and the wider skills of creativity and enterprise which contribute towards their employability   

A document was produced in December 2008 outlining the benefits to schools in having links with businesses and universities.  

It can be downloaded here.

Business in Schools

Business in Schools is a campaign by education foundation Edge, encouraging business to work with schools and colleges to enrich young people’s education. It is currently running in Yorkshire and Hertfordshire and the centerpiece of the campaign is this website.

Completely free of charge to users, it helps businesses identify local opportunities to work with schools and colleges. Businessinschools.co.uk provides employers with information on a wide variety of work-related learning activities, and helps them identify and contact local schools and colleges that need their help.

Visit www.businessinschools.co.uk for more details