Become an Enterprise Adviser

Help to build connections between schools and local employers, improving the career prospects of young people

The CIPD is proud to be partnering with the Careers and Enterprise Company to recruit Enterprise Advisers. The programme provides an opportunity to use your unique HR and L&D expertise to bring work to life and to shape the workplace of the future.

Why sign up to be an Enterprise Adviser

Enterprise Advisers are strategic volunteers on a mission to enhance young people’s futures.

You will:

Make a difference to young people’s career prospects

A young person who has four or more meaningful encounters with an employer is 86% less likely to become NEET (not in education, employment or training)

Support schools' leadership teams to develop effective careers strategies

Our network of over 700 Enterprise Advisers are supporting the government’s mission of connecting all schools in England with an Enterprise Adviser by 2020.

Promote skills that employers are looking for

Use industry and professional knowledge to demystify what employers look for in their future talent, sharing knowledge of the labour market and promoting industry sectors.

Drive equality in careers education across England and tackle youth unemployment

Enterprise Advisers work in all areas to improve access to information, advice and networks for every student – there should be no barriers to meaningful careers advice.

  • Are you a senior-level HR and L&D professional with experience of developing and delivering strategy?
  • Are you assertive, persuasive and willing to drive culture change?
  • Are you motivated to bring the worlds of work and education together?

Are you able to utilise your existing networks or create new links between employers and schools? As an Enterprise Adviser you’ll be connected to a secondary school, special educational needs school, pupil referral unit or Further Education College in England for one year. You’ll spend eight hours per month providing face-to-face and remote support.

If you are interested in and would like more information around supporting a specialist school including: pupil referral units, schools catering for deaf students and schools for students with social, emotional and mental health needs, please read our Working in specialist schools guidance document.

  • Personal development
  • A chance to support young people
  • A pipeline of future talent for your sector/industry
  • Insight into the challenges facing the next generation
  • Knowledge to inform your own workplace.

Read about Nerys Thomas' and Nick West's first hand experiences of being an Enterprise Adviser.

PDF download

Case study: Nerys Thomas

(199 KB)
PDF download

Case study: Nick West

(241 KB)

Simply follow these steps to get involved as an Enterprise Adviser:

  1. Register your interest via a short online cipdenterpriseadvisers.co.uk
  2. You'll be contacted by email with information on the next stage.
  3. Submit an application form and CV via email.
  4. Have a short telephone interview with the CIPD.
  5. The CIPD refers you to your Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
  6. The LEP matches you to a school or college.
  7. You become an Enterprise Adviser, using your skills and knowledge to help schools.

Looking for more information?

Download our Enterprise Adviser promotional leaflet for more information on the programme.

For any questions, feel free to contact our Social Impact and Innovation team today on enterpriseadviser@cipd.co.uk

Webinar: Shaping careers education in a local school

Watch a video of the webinar below

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