Become an Enterprise Adviser

Working directly with school’s leadership teams to develop effective employer engagement plans and careers education strategies, volunteer Enterprise Advisers help to build connections between schools and local employers, improving the prospects of the young people attending that school.

The new challenges young people face today

Young people are often unprepared for the fast changing world of work and are either unaware of the opportunities available or bewildered by too many choices.

Research shows:

• 16-24 year olds are three times to more likely to be unemployed than those aged 25-64, despite the recent drop in unemployed young people.
• nearly 60% of UK graduates are currently in non-graduate roles according to the CIPD report Over-qualification and skills mis-match in the graduate labour market
• young people risk significant financial loss if they make the wrong further education choice since the rise in tuition fees
• inadequate careers information, advice and guidance in schools is a key problem according to many employers, young people and parents.

How the programme works

Following a short interview process to assess your motivations and level of experience, volunteers will be asked to attend an introductory training session and provided with a detailed toolkit. Each Enterprise Adviser will be allocated one school or college and be supported by a dedicated Enterprise Coordinator who will be on hand if you have any concerns or queries.

Following an introductory meeting with senior staff and careers leads at the school, you will work with them to develop their careers strategy and help them understand and select suitable activities for their students. On average, volunteers are likely to spend one day per month volunteering, but this time will be split over the course of a month and may take the form of meetings, telephone calls, or emails.

Contact our Community Investment team today to find out more: enterpriseadviser@cipd.co.uk

Find out more about the Careers and Enterprise Company.

As a volunteer Enterprise Adviser you will:

• develop your leadership skills
• support a local school and wider community
• play an active role in helping schools develop ‘work ready’ young people
• access a diverse pool of entry-level talent and help them harness the skills of the future
• promote your organisation and its contribution to tackling youth unemployment.

CIPD is proud to be working with the Careers and Enterprise Company to recruit volunteers for the Enterprise Adviser programme across England.

Can you inspire young people in your area?

We are looking for self-driven, passionate individuals who are committed to making a difference to young people’s career prospects. You’ll have the opportunity to share your passion for your profession and knowledge of the local labour market, promote the skills employers are looking for, and develop an effective employer engagement programme.

How to get involved

If you’re ready to connect the world of work to your local school and help progress young people from education to employment, contact a member of our community investment team today.