The Give an Hour campaign is reaching out to businesses to give an hour of their time to introduce young people to the world of work. This initiative is delivered as part of the Enterprise Adviser Network (EAN), which is funded nationally by The Careers & Enterprise Company and locally by The West Kent Partnership, Medway Council and Kent County Council in partnership with The Education People.
The Network helps young people realise their career potential by promoting career paths and delivering employability activities, and helps schools engage with businesses in their local community. The Network helps to address the skills needs of our local economy but equally important is the potential to improve outcomes and provide greater opportunities for our young people - the workforce of the future.
James Roberts, CEO of The Education People, said:
“As an ex-school leader, and parent, I have witnessed the huge impact that employers can have on the education, aspirations and life chances of children and young people. They can provide inspiration to those at risk of becoming disengaged, provide clarity for those confused about their future career path, and provide tangible solutions to those who are seeking guidance and support. The Give an Hour campaign aims to do just that and I would encourage businesses to sign up and help change the lives of young people in their local area”
The Give an Hour campaign is a great way to give something back to the community. Opportunities are also available for business leaders to get involved in strategic partnerships with local schools and colleges as well as other inspiring activities across Kent and Medway.
Iain Hawthorne, Regional Food and Drink Director at HSBC and Enterprise Adviser, said:
“The importance of inspiring the future generations to live and work in the great county of Kent is not only a privilege to do, but incredibly valuable to young people. Whilst both challenging and rewarding, it’s also fun and develops a great sense of helping the community.”
An hour may not sound like enough time to have an impact but activities such as mock interviews, CV workshops or a career insight session can make such a difference to a group of young people.
Volunteer Enterprise Adviser and business owner, Susan Pearson said of the campaign:
“It is a very powerful initiative that brings local businesses and schools together and helps to influence the future workforce. Through the campaign, the students benefit from the knowledge shared by the business leaders - whether that be through coaching, interview training or even work experience. The business leaders benefit from inspiring and shaping the talent of the future, as well as supporting their local communities.
As a local business owner, I can see great benefit in this scheme - for the sake of an hour of their time, business individuals can make a huge difference to a student's career outlook and prospects, whilst also getting an insight into the next generation entering the workplace. Furthermore, the design of this scheme makes it a fun and easy process for all involved, and so producing much more effective results.”
Find out more and register at: www.giveanhour.co.uk
Suz Elvey | Communications Officer | People and Communications | Kent County Council
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