Education Business Plus

Education Business Plus forms part of Connexions - Cheshire & Warrington Limited, and is responsible for brokering Education Business linked activities for more than ten thousand young people in the sub-region’s schools.

Our aim is to strengthen and develop partnerships between employers and education, focusing on the needs of both. This is achieved through raising the awareness and aspirations of young people about the world of work. For employers, it allows them to raise their profile in the local community, as well as helping to shape attitudes and nurture the development of their future workforce.

“I gained enormous satisfaction from seeing the pupils progress and achieve. The challenge made me step outside my comfort zone and do something different from my every day work role” (Business Ambassador)

“Projects like this are very important to give students an experience of the challenges they will face when they start working life. It provided real work, real world, real life opportunity” (Business Mentor)

Here’s how you can get involved:

• Host a visit at your workplace for a group of young people studying one of the new Diplomas which offer applied learning set in context of a range of employment sectors,

• Give a “mock” interview at a local high school to young people about to leave school, to give them valuable practice and feedback before the real thing,

• Take part in a business simulation day, working with a group of students giving them valuable insight into the world of work and what it means to run a business,

• Provide a work experience placement – still considered to be one of the most effective tools in giving young people a insight into working life,

• Set students a “real life” business task for them to work on as part of a vocationally linked course,

• Spend time with primary school children, helping them to grasp the meaning of enterprise and the importance of entrepreneurial skills and attitudes for later life,

• Become a mentor to a student who needs a little time with someone impartial, who can motivate and encourage them to achieve their potential.

Why should I get involved?

• A school could produce artworks for your workplace

• Young people generate new, fresh ideas!

• Your business could raise its local profile by linking with and supporting a school

• Your staff could benefit from professional development opportunities such as supervising or interviewing young people

• Achieve satisfaction from putting back something valuable into your community

• You can influence and help develop tomorrow’s workforce, including meeting your own requirements.

If you would like to find out more, please contact Education Business Plus.