Employers inspiring young people with life lessons from lockdown

Bucks Skills Hub is delighted that its Buckinghamshire Careers Hub has been awarded an extension to its existing careers hub to cover all 37 mainstream secondary schools in Buckinghamshire, in addition to the latest review by the Careers & Enterprise Company that shows Buckinghamshire Careers Hub as the top-performing careers hub in the country.

An example of just why it has been named the top performing careers hub can be seen in the guides the team have created for students to help them explore careers and be inspired about their futures.

Bucks Skills Hub asked its Enterprise Advisers (volunteers who link schools to the world of work) to share their experiences and pass on advice they'd give to their 16-year-old self.

These stories are a great example of the impact that businesses can have by engaging with Bucks Skills Hub and that individuals can have by becoming an Enterprise Adviser. Businesses can really help to create an entrepreneurial cuture within schools, something that's especially important now as young people face increasing challenges to kick-start their careers post-coronavirus.

You can listen to this great advice here. If you know a young peson who would benefit from careers inspiration, please share this with them.

For more information on how your business can get involved with inspiring young people, email info@bucksskillshub.org.

Bucks Skills Hub awarded extension to cover all mainstream secondary schools

Bucks Skills Hub is delighted with the announcement made by the Department for Education and the Careers & Enterprise Company that the Buckinghamshire Careers Hub has been awarded an extension to its existing careers hub to cover all 37 mainstream secondary schools in Buckinghamshire.

The expansion gives the opportunity for an additional 16 schools and colleges to join the programme, working together with universities, training providers, employers and career professionals. This extension gives the Buckinghamshire Careers Hub an opportunity to accelerate and build upon the careers education already taking place in schools and colleges in the area.

Every mainstream secondary school and college in Buckinghamshire will have access to this additional support to boost careers provision, ensuring young people have the opportunities they need in the future. Improving the skills of young people will provide employers will the expertise they need and develop the next generation of talent to boost the local economy.

Marina Jackson, Under 19 Skills Manager & Careers Hub Lead, Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “I’m thrilled that the first stage of our Careers Hub has been so successful, and its performance demonstrates the dedication of our teachers, businesses and training providers in nurturing the next generation of talent. For young people in Buckinghamshire to have a rewarding career, it is vital that they are aware of the available careers opportunities and the skills our businesses require to succeed. Thanks to this expansion, we can work even harder to give our students the best start on their route to high-quality careers, while supporting our job creators and key sectors.”

Buckinghamshire has the top-performing Careers Hub

This announcement follows the latest review by the Careers & Enterprise Company that shows Buckinghamshire Careers Hub as the top-performing careers hub in the country, outperforming the national average against the Gatsby Benchmarks - the government’s framework of eight guidelines that define the best careers provision in secondary schools.

Working through a partnership approach with schools, colleges, employers, local enterprise partnerships and other local organisations, Careers Hubs have accelerated levels of support and improvement in young people’s career development. Careers Hubs have been at the forefront of efforts to respond to the initial period of lockdown, continuing to offer young people support with their career decision-making.

Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills, Gillian Keegan said: “We want young people across the country to receive the best careers advice so they can get a head start in the world of work and go on to have successful careers. The expansion of our Careers Hubs will mean we are now supporting more than 2,200 schools and colleges, bringing them together with employers to provide high-quality careers guidance.

“Now, more than ever, it’s vital young people make the most of their talents and are aware of the range of opportunities available. This is brilliant news and I look forward to hearing about the progress made.”

The aim of Bucks LEP’s Skills Hub is to make a difference to young people’s employability, while addressing the needs of employers. Buckinghamshire Skills Hub is working to ensure all schools have access to effective and impactful employer interactions.

Careers inspiration for students from Bucks Skills Hub

Bucks Skills Hub has created guides for students to help them explore careers and be inspired about their futures.

‘Isolation Inspiration: 10 Steps to Exploring Careers in Lockdown’

The aim of ‘Isolation Inspiration: 10 Steps to Exploring Careers in Lockdown’ is to show students that, now more than ever, it’s time to think about their future and set exciting goals to aim for.

The guide offers a quick and easy topic-a-week plan to follow without feeling overloaded.

‘Isolation Inspiration: 6 Steps to Finding your Future’

The aim of ‘Isolation Inspiration: 6 Steps to Finding your Future’ is to:

• show students what job opportunities are on their doorstep 
• open students' eyes to possibilities they’ve never thought about in four growth sectors: creative, space, medical technology and high performance engineering
• provide a home-learning careers resource which students can complete by themselves
• continue to inspire and motivate students during lockdown

All of the resources are free to use.

Keep in touch via Bucks Skills Hub's social media channels

Stay in touch with the Skills Hub Team via email at info@bucksskillshub.org and keep an eye out for updates on their social media channels on Twitter and Facebook.