Finding and developing talent remains a challenge for many organisations. One of the most effective ways to influence the future workforce is to engage with the people who will become it.
Surrey Careers Hub, part of Surrey County Council’s Economy and Growth Team, supports 96 secondary schools and colleges to deliver high-quality careers programmes. By connecting employers with education, the Careers Hub helps young people understand the world of work while enabling businesses to build stronger talent pipelines and increase awareness of their sectors and opportunities.
The Careers Hub is expanding its Business Volunteer network and is looking for organisations and professionals who want to invest in Surrey’s future workforce while delivering real benefits to their own business.
Why get involved?
Working with schools and colleges gives your business the opportunity to:
- Raise the profile of your organisation and early careers opportunities
- Build awareness of careers within your sector
- Develop staff through mentoring, coaching and leadership opportunities
- Influence the skills and knowledge young people develop before entering employment
- Strengthen future talent pipelines for your organisation
- Demonstrate your commitment to social value and community impact.
Research consistently shows that employers who engage with education are more likely to report benefits such as improved recruitment pipelines, increased staff engagement and stronger links with their local communities.
“Offering work experience is a key part of how we recruit and helps our team grow by developing their coaching skills. We create flexible opportunities, which fit around our business. At the end of each placement, students share what they’ve learned, and that’s when we know we’re making a difference.”
Davinder Lotay, Owner & Managing Director, Altimex Ltd
Flexible ways to support
Whether you can only spare an hour a term, or are looking to build a longer-term partnership, there are opportunities to suit organisations of all sizes.
Light-touch support
Potential light-touch activities include:
- Careers fairs
- Speed networking events
- Mock interviews
- Guest speaking opportunities
These sessions provide valuable insights into your industry while helping raise awareness of your organisation among future employees.
Strategic partnerships
Businesses that have the appetite to get more involved can also provide more in-depth support by sharing specialist knowledge, delivering workshops, supporting projects, and helping education leaders understand industry needs and emerging skills requirements.
“At KPMG, we’ve seen first-hand how these experiences broaden horizons and help young people connect their strengths to real opportunities. But this only works when businesses collaborate. By opening our doors wider and involving a range of organisations, we can offer young people a clearer picture of what’s possible and, in doing so, strengthen the future workforce.”
Cath Burnet, Head of Audit, KPMG UK
Supporting meaningful work experience
Work experience is evolving. With the Government’s ambition for every young person to complete 10 days of meaningful work experience during secondary education, employers have an increasingly important role to play, and more opportunity to do so than ever before.
Opportunities can range from short workplace visits and employer encounters lasting just one or two hours through to multi-day work experience placements that give young people hands-on exposure to your industry.
These experiences help students build confidence and employability skills while allowing employers to showcase career pathways and engage with future talent at an early stage.
“In the world of hybrid working, the traditional five-day work experience is ever challenging to achieve. Our approach offers experiences of the workplace of different lengths and venues for maximum flexibility and scale.”
Ian Browne, Early Careers Leader, Lloyds Banking Group
Join the Business Volunteer network
Whether your goal is attracting future talent, developing your workforce, increasing your organisation’s visibility or giving back to your local community, Surrey Careers Hub can help you find an approach that works for your business.
To get involved, please complete the Business Volunteer Network Employer Engagement Offer form. A member of the Surrey Careers Hub team will then contact you to discuss suitable opportunities and available support.
Still have questions?
Just send an email to careers.hub@surreycc.gov.uk and one of the team will get back to you quickly with answers.
