Spelthorne Business Awards winners for 2024 announced
Published 7 December 2024
Events and awards
The winners of the 2024 Spelthorne Business Awards have been announced – with fresh juice company Mejuicer winning the headline award.
Business Surrey was a proud sponsor of the event held in the Hazelwood Centre in Sunbury.
It saw the hard work, creativity and achievements of dozens of businesses from Staines, Shepperton, Sunbury, Ashford and beyond recognised.
From innovative startups to leading multinational firms, there was a spotlight on the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit that drives economic success.
Cllr Med Buck, Mayor of Spelthorne, shared his admiration for the entrants. He said: “The range and quality of entries this year are proof of the wealth of entrepreneurial spirit, talent, and innovative thinking across Spelthorne.
“This community is truly rich with business expertise, and their achievements make me hopeful for Spelthorne’s bright future. Congratulations to all our finalists and winners. I’d also like to extend our thanks to the sponsors who make this celebration of local talent possible.
“The Spelthorne Business Awards are a wonderful platform to honour the accomplishments of our businesses, regardless of size, especially given the challenging economic conditions.”
Spelthorne Business Awards winners
Best Overall Business in Spelthorne – Mejuicer
Best New Start-Up Award – The Stewart Academy of Performing Arts
Best Small Business Award – Totally Tangerine Cookery
Best Restaurant, Bar or Pub Awards – Indian Zest
Business Innovation Award – Thames Side Brewery
Sustainability Award – Mova Hairdressing Ltd
Best Franchise Award – Right at Home Richmond & Twickenham
Retail Excellence Award – Mejuicer
Best Hospitality & Leisure Business – The Magpie Pub
Corporate Social Responsibility Award – Visit Staines
Best Business in Staines & Laleham – Specsavers Staines
Best Business in Ashford & Stanwell – Totally Tangerine Cookery
Best Business in Sunbury & Halliford – The Magpie Pub
Best Business in Shepperton & Charlton – Village Matters Ltd
For a full list of finalists, visit the Spelthorne Business Awards website.
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3ti is the latest of our Surrey Success Stories, a collection of video case studies of businesses – large and small – that are putting our region on the map. Click on the video below to discover how this Leatherhead company has become a leading light in renewable energy and EV charging.
3ti: fuelling cars with sunshine
Have you heard about the company that creates solar-powered pop-up car parks?
Our latest Surrey Success Story features 3ti, a Leatherhead company which is a leader in the renewable energy, battery storage and EV charging sectors.
Since being founded in 2019, the company has grown from 3 to 33 employees. And it’s forecast to turnover £10 million in 2024.
3ti’s products have generated eight gigawatt-hours of solar power – saving customers £2 million in energy costs and avoiding carbon emissions equivalent to planting over 32,000 trees.
The impact is also clear in the bottom line. The company is growing year on year and almost doubled its headcount in the last 12 months.
Innovation and sustainability
3ti stands for three technology infrastructure – meaning solar, batteries and EV charging.
The company combines these technologies in pop-up car park infrastructure.
3ti’s core product is Papilio3, a pop-up mini solar car park and EV charging hub made out of a converted shipping container.
As founder Tim Evans said: “When I drive home this evening, it will be powered by this afternoon’s sunshine.”
Being based in Leatherhead brings many benefits to the company.
It provides a fantastic quality of life for its employees. There are good schools, thriving communities and accessible countryside in easy reach. Plus there are fast connections to London, Gatwick, the M25 and beyond.
Being based in Surrey allows 3ti to access a highly-skilled talent pool powered by three leading universities.
Ryan Sherratt is a living example. He landed a job with 3ti straight out of university and is now putting his renewables learning into real-life practice with a growing business.
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Creative Corridor initiative could boost and grow Surrey’s creative industries
Published 2 December 2024
Innovation
Creative Corridor – an initiative to grow and recognise Surrey’s creative industries – has launched. And businesses of all sizes are encouraged to get involved.
Surrey County Council has commissioned the University for the Creative Arts to look at ways to bring together creative producers, education partners and production facilities in and around the region.
The aim is to accelerate development of a Surrey+ Creative Corridor. This would recognise the region as a nationally and globally significant hub for creative technology innovation and economic growth.
The first step is the developing a Surrey+ Strategy, looking at the challenges and opportunities of the creative industries in Surrey.
A series of workshops with businesses and partners are taking place this month. View the details below. Or you can sign up via the Fifth Sector website.
Creative industries – a growing sector
Surrey is a hotbed for the creative industries, with its businesses generating billions to the regional economy and employing thousands of people. This has supported growth across the UK.
The success of the creative sector has generated further growth – leading to a “cluster” of creative industries setting up in the county.
This allows them to collaborate and compete, supporting knowledge exchange and accessing physical spaces such as film studios and cultural infrastructure
In time it attracts more skilled workers, specialist suppliers and investors, fostering a wider environment of collaboration and competition.
Surrey’s Creative Corridor is identified as part of the London and M25 Creative Supercluster hotspot, extending across London, Surrey, Kent, and Sussex. This region accounted for 68% of the UK’s creative industries GVA (£71 billion) in 2019.
Figures from UKRI show from 2010 to 2019 the creative industries grew more than 1.5 times faster than the wider UK economy. In 2021 they generated £108 billion in economic value, employing 2.3 million people – a 49% increase since 2011.
What is Creative Corridor?
The Creative Corridor Initiative aims to support Surrey’s creative industries by identifying opportunities, addressing challenges, and attracting investment.
Over the next six months, an Advisory Board will shape a report that outlines actionable steps to grow the creative economy in Surrey and South Central. This will be led by commissioned experts the Fifth Sector.
Skills and strengthening the talent pipeline will be a focus. It will also explore the potential for establishing a ‘creative corridor’ with other regional neighbours.
The report launches at UCA Farnham in March 2025.
Get involved with Creative Corridor
Workshops with a diverse group of stakeholders are taking place this month (December 2024)
They will bring together industry, education and the public sector to talk about the future skills needs of the creative cluster, as well as opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Bookings are now open. Sign up below.
Surrey+ Cultural, Creative & Media Workshop – Tuesday 3 December 2024, 10am to 11.30am
Surrey+ Games, Interactive and Convergent Screen Technologies Workshop – Monday 9 December, 2pm to 3.30pm
These workshops build on the 2023 Surrey Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), driving a coordinated approach to boost the growth and resilience of the local creative economy while increasing opportunities for the creative workforce across the region.
Support for your business
Business Surrey is a Surrey County Council service providing free and accessible support for all businesses in Surrey. Our team of experts can provide independent and impartial advice on growing your business.
CIFAL Surrey brings UN-backed sustainability institute to the region
Published 27 November 2024
Innovation
CIFAL Surrey – a United Nations-backed study centre for sustainability – has launched, aiming to tackle major global challenges by empowering local leaders and communities.
Drastically improving the UK’s ability to address climate change is the grand challenge that the new United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)-affiliated CIFAL centre will tackle.
It launched this week (Monday, 25 November) at the University of Surrey in Guildford with a ceremonial UN flag raising, a Signing Ceremony and a panel event.
In attendance was a senior delegation from UNITAR, Zöe Franklin, MP for Guildford, and a range of the university’s collaborative partners in business and government.
What is CIFAL Surrey?
Situated within the University’s Institute for Sustainability, CIFAL Surrey will deliver both training and capacity building on a wide range of sustainability challenges.
This includes helping facilitate knowledge exchange among leaders in government, the private sector, and civil society – locally, nationally and internationally, as well as UK-based international organisations.
The CIFAL Centre will draw on the University of Surrey’s strong research heritage and active engagement in sustainability.
It will work with UNITAR (the UN’s training branch) and the CIFAL Global Network among other stakeholders to lead both training and capacity-building initiatives in sustainability.
This will ensure CIFAL Surrey makes a unique and much-needed contribution to empowering climate leadership through enhanced climate literacy within and beyond Surrey.
CIFAL Surrey will also work in partnership with national and local government, industry, civil society, and beyond. This includes developing sustainable economic practices, and helping to advance action towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
CIFAL Surrey is the second UN-affiliated centre on campus, following the 2023 launch of the Centre of Excellence for Ageing, which appointed its first cohort of Fellows in June 2024.
CIFAL Surrey – what they say
Professor Amelia Hadfield, Associate Vice President for External Engagement, and the new Director of CIFAL Surrey, said: Sustainability is far more than just a philosophy limited to net zero here at the University of Surrey. For us, and our community, sustainability reflects our deep, shared commitment to rebuilding a thriving planet for future generations. From the fundamentals of climate change to advanced policy implementation, CIFAL Surrey will provide hands-on training and resources to national and local government, businesses, and community groups, helping them deliver on the demands for a more sustainable future.
Alex Mejia, Division Director at United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), said: “We are honoured to inaugurate CIFAL Surrey, hosted by the University of Surrey, a renowned global institution at the forefront of innovation and learning. This new centre will mark an important step in our mission to advance sustainable development and capacity-building worldwide. It will serve as a vital hub for fostering collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange across the United Kingdom and beyond.”
Councillor Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth at Surrey County Council, said: It’s a pleasure to be able to welcome the team from the United Nations to launch this new international centre in the heart of Surrey.
The CIFAL centre will play a key role in promoting sustainable development at home and abroad while also opening up opportunities for our communities. It also reinforces the region’s global reputation for innovation, research and knowledge exchange.
Sustainability support for your business
Surrey is committed to a net zero future – and as businesses in our vibrant regional economy, you are vital to achieving this goal by 2050.
There is lots of practical support, courses and funding out there to help your business along the way.
Looking for help to get started? Get in touch via our business support form and we can provide bespoke support for your business.
First ever Surrey Careers Hub Conference brings employers and educators closer together
Published 19 November 2024
Skills and workforce
Bridging the gap between education and employment to boost opportunities for all was the focus of the first ever Surrey Careers Hub conference.
Up to 70 representatives from employers, schools, colleges and training providers attended the event last week at Nescot College in Epsom.
The aim was to celebrate the successes achieved in the first year of the Surrey Careers Hub and explore ways to raise awareness of all the opportunities available to young people in secondary education so they can take their next best step.
By doing so, this will help young people into fulfilling employment while supporting growth in the regional economy.
Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, opened the event. He said: “Providing clear pathways for our young people to gain the skills and information they need for their future careers is vital. Through Surrey Careers Hub, we have the framework in place to offer world class careers provision across the whole of Surrey.
“We have a strong and diverse economy with internationally recognised sectors and outstanding education settings – and it is up to all of us to bring those two things closer together.
“I look forward to seeing our employers and educators continuing to work together to provide opportunities for all our young people, regardless of their background. In time this will deliver benefits to them as individuals, to our businesses and the wider economy.”
A year of Surrey Careers Hub
Surrey Careers Hub was launched in September 2023 by Surrey County Council with funding from The Careers & Enterprise Company.
During the first 12 months, the Surrey Careers Hub team has:
Engaged 95 maintained schools, colleges, special schools, alternative provisions and Pupil Referral Units;
Recruited more than 90 volunteers from the business community to support the delivery of careers related activities for students;
Provided opportunities for teachers and students to learn more about careers in Surrey’s growth sectors, such as gaming, cyber security, creative industries and construction and infrastructure;
Supported the progression of schools and colleges across all eight Gatsby Benchmarks; the government recognised framework of good careers education.
Georgina Angele, Strategic Hub Lead at Surrey Careers Hub, said: “Bridging the skills gap is one of the most pressing issues facing the UK economy, even in a region as large and diverse as Surrey.
“This gap not only hampers business growth but also hampers wider economic development – which is why the work we’re doing is so important.
“Our ambition is to ensure Surrey has an engaged, informed and skilled future workforce to meet the demands of the modern economy – but we can only do that with the support and input from employers, educators and our young people.”
Highlights of the first-ever Surrey Careers Hub conference
The conference saw a variety of speakers talk about a range of issues relevant to the work of the Surrey Careers Hub.
This included businesses, such as Guildford-based IT support services firm ramsac, which recently hosted two groups of teachers to learn more about their work as part of the Teachers Encounters programme. These are workplace experiences for teachers, helping to connect their subject teaching and learning to the world of work.
Delegates also heard from representatives of The Careers & Enterprise Company, a Headteacher, young people and industry stakeholders.
Julie Kapsalis, Principal of Nescot College, who is also a member of the Surrey Careers Hub Cornerstone Employers Group, said: “I am so passionate about the work we’re doing collaboratively around careers, for us as a business but primarily for students. This allows us to respond far better to the wider economic needs of businesses.
“It’s that commitment to raise the quality of careers education, to tackle disadvantage and barriers to success, which is why I am so proud to be involved with the Surrey Careers Hub.”
There are lots of ways Surrey businesses can support Surrey’s future workforce.
Want to support the work of the Surrey Careers Hub? We’re looking for professionals from all sectors and business of all sizes to work with Careers Leaders and Education Leaders as Enterprise Advisers to shape their careers education strategies. Get in touch via our contact us form for further details.
Led by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and sponsored by Santander UK, in partnership with industry, ITW 2024 will feature five action-packed days of events, workshops and webinars – all free for businesses to attend.
Whether you’re looking to secure your first export contract or expand your existing international sales, ITW will have something for you.
The week’s activities are for UK companies of all sizes and sectors – you just need an interest in growing your business.
Register for International Trade Week events
You will only need to complete registration once to become a member of the UK Export Academy.
From there, you will be able to register for as many free ITW events as you wish.
Check back regularly as events are being added everyday.
Discover the wide-ranging support available from DBT and its partners
Learn about global opportunities and how to seize them
Understand the benefits of trade deals the UK has signed
Hear from, and speak to, experts in international trade
Export support for Surrey businesses
Business Surrey is a Surrey County Council service providing free and accessible support for all businesses in Surrey. This includes those wanting to export or trade internationally.
Whether you need help navigating trade regulations or finding overseas buyers, our team can connect you with the right partners and tools to ensure your international success.
Sign up to our newsletter for regular updates on news, events and support for all Surrey businesses.
Find out more about what we do and how to access one of our many startup-friendly services by completing our Contact Us form.
FORT programme to train future AI and cyber leaders in Surrey
Published 6 November 2024
Innovation, Skills and workforce
Surrey’s reputation as a leader in cyber security and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been reinforced with the launch of the new multi-million pound FORT programme.
Running in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast, it will support at least 50 PhD researchers to develop their skills and industry-ready innovations over the next eight years.
They will work with industry partners including Rolls Royce, AWS, HP, Virgin Media, BT and Keysight Technologies.
Academic researchers claim these highly specialised skills are crucial for ensuring private and secure communications in the future.
It will underline the university and wider region’s credentials as an innovation powerhouse which nurtures advanced skills in wireless communications, AI, and cyber security.
What is the FORT programme?
The FORT centre for doctoral training is a community of postgraduate researchers who will become industry-conscious thinkers and leaders.
It is supported by £8 million in government funding, through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
The launch event highlighted the importance of training postgraduate researchers in the fast-evolving fields of wireless communications, AI, cybersecurity, and networking.
It featured demonstrations, discussions and networking sessions. It gave attendees with insights into the future of telecommunications, AI, and cybersecurity.
Industry partners also shared their vision for the collaboration. They also stressed the significance of academic-industry partnerships in addressing the real-world challenges faced by the telecommunications sector.
Professor Rahim Tafazolli, Head of the Institute for Communication Systems (ICS), said: The collaboration between academia and industry is pivotal in positioning the UK as a leader in secure and resilient communications networks.
The launch of FORT is just the beginning of a bold journey towards shaping the future of telecommunications.
“The backing of the EPSRC has been essential in establishing this partnership between Surrey, Queen’s and our 21 valued industry partners. Together we have the potential to deliver a transformational shift in the UK’s position at the heart of innovation for future global telecommunications infrastructure.”
We’re nurturing and bringing together companies in these key sectors as part of our clusters work.
We are also working with researchers and funding establishments to bring in investment and build infrastructure.
Plus we work with training providers to ensure the county’s future workforce has the necessary skills for these sectors to prosper for years to come.
Do you work in a cyber or artificial intelligence and looking for support to grow? Get in touch with our experts via our business support form.
Gatwick Airport supplier opportunity for Surrey construction firms
Published 4 November 2024
Business news
Construction companies across Surrey are being encouraged to sign up as a potential Gatwick Airport supplier.
With 41 million annual passengers, London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest airports. It is a major driver of national and regional economy, generating £5.5 billion GVA and supporting over 76,000 jobs.
Gatwick has a supply chain commitment to working with businesses based in the region. This means businesses based in the local area can benefit from contracts worth £151 million a year.
As part of its new overarching Supply Chain Strategy, the airport is now looking to expand its database of construction companies.
It has set up a survey form to identify Surrey businesses in construction-related industries that are interested in working at London Gatwick.
London Gatwick has developed a new overarching Supply Chain Strategy linked to its wider Capital Investment Programme.
The new Construction Frameworks will deliver improved facilities and services for its passengers and airline customers over the next six years. It includes construction works, various professional services including design services, and surveys.
To ensure the airport has a capable, engaged, and strong supply chain to respond and deliver the associated works, the Supply Chain team have developed an Expression of Interest Survey for businesses working in construction-related industries.
This will enable the airport and its contractors to promote future indirect opportunities to work with Tier 1 framework suppliers on relevant projects in 2025 and beyond.
The opportunity is open to all businesses in Surrey. So whether you have previously delivered works directly to London Gatwick or not, the airport wants to hear from you. This will help it understand the range of capabilities that local and regional businesses offer.
Other Gatwick Airport supplier opportunities
Gatwick is a major driver for the local and regional economy, as well as supporting the wider UK economy. It is committed to supporting local businesses and creating new opportunities associated with its local supply chain.
Are you a regional small and medium-sized business that wants to work with Gatwick Airport?
Regional small and medium-sized enterprise businesses in certain postcodes can register their interest in working with the airport as a supplier.
Note: this is only open to SMEs located in the RH, BN, CR, KT, TN, GU, PO, SM, ME, CT, BR and DA postcodes).
Business Surrey is a Surrey County Council service providing free and accessible support for all businesses in Surrey. This includes help with contracts, procurement and access to funding.
Our team of experts can provide independent and impartial advice on growing your business.
Find out more about what we do and how to access one of services by completing our Contact Us form.
KFC UK: a Surrey Success Story
Published 29 October 2024
Skills and workforce, Surrey Success Stories
KFC UK is the latest of our Surrey Success Stories, a collection of video case studies of businesses – large and small – that are putting our region on the map. Click on the video below to discover why Surrey is a great place for this international brand to have its UK base .
KFC UK: an iconic brand with an iconic founder
It’s an iconic global brand with a founder as famous as its food. But how many of you knew that Colonel Sanders’ fried chicken legacy is rooted in Surrey as well as Kentucky?
Kentucky Fried Chicken – known better as KFC – opened its first UK restaurant in Preston, Lancashire in the 1960s.
And the UK operation has never looked back. Currently there are more than 1,000 branches in the UK. And its parent company KFC UK has an annual turnover of close to £300 million.
This major operation is all coordinated from a UK headquarters in the heart of the Surrey town of Woking.
KFC’s secret to success
So how has a company founded in the southern US state of Kentucky come to be so popular?
Well, the food is pretty good – with the unique blend of 11 herbs and spices still very much a top level secret.
The company is also committed to being bold and innovative.
Jo Tivers, Head of Food and Quality, said: “I love working in the fast food industry. As the name suggests, it’s really, really fast. We can be really innovative, we can try new things. We have a customer base that is really interested in trying new things.”
The company is also big on investing in its people – with culture being a real focus. It claims to be “people first culture, really heart-led” – with a real focus on supporting and championing young people, especially with their first jobs.
As Hema Ladwa, People Experience Lead, explains: “We really believe that everyone has the potential, we just need to feed that potential, whether it’s feeding them chicken or whether it’s feeding them through their knowledge and through their learning and development.”
This commitment inspires loyalty and nurtures talent, for now and into the future.
KFC UK and Surrey
KFC UK has had its restaurant support centre in Woking for more than 25 years. About 350 people are based there, with location being a major plus point – for business and for pleasure.
With direct train links to London taking 30 minutes and the M25 and two major airports a short drive away, connectivity couldn’t be better.
Jenny Packwood, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, said: “Not only do we have great proximity to London, the trains are really quick in and out to London for people who live there. And because we’re international, the proximity to Heathrow and Gatwick is also really helpful.”
Woking is also a fantastic place for people to be live, continually being ranked among the best places in the UK to reside.
There’s culture, countryside, shopping, great food and drink plus access to a range of recreational facilities.
Jo Tivers, Head of Food and Quality, said: “It’s great to be able to go into the weekend, enjoy lunch out with the family, take them to the theatre, to the cinema. There’s always something incredible to do.”
Looking to relocate your business to Surrey?
Thanks to our desirable location, reputation for innovation and collaborative business ecosystem, Surrey is a top business location of choice.
Business Blog: Why young people are crucial to growing our future economy
Published 23 October 2024
Skills and workforce, Thought leadership
Georgina Angele, Strategic Hub Lead for Surrey Careers Hub, has almost two decades of experience working to connect schools and colleges with employers. In our latest business blog, she explains how Surrey businesses can play their part in equipping young people with future skills – and why it will benefit them and the wider economy down the line.
In today’s rapidly evolving job market, the importance of equipping young people with relevant employment skills whilst still in school or college cannot be overstated.
As we navigate the 21st century, the landscape of work is being reshaped by continual changes in technology, national policy and globalisation.
To support future economic growth and help young people achieve their potential, it is imperative we prepare them with the skills they will need to thrive.
As Strategic Hub Lead for the Surrey Careers Hub, it’s my role to directly work with employers and education providers to unlock opportunities – bringing them closer together, so that we can ensure young people have a range of meaningful careers experiences while they are still in school and college. Read on to find out more, or if you’re ready to involved sign up now to become a strategic Enterprise Advisor working with a local school.
Bridging the Skills Gap
One of the most pressing challenges facing economies across the UK is the skills gap, even in an economy as diverse and large as Surrey.
Employers across a range of sectors often report difficulties in finding candidates coming out of education with the skills required for the positions available.
This gap not only hampers business growth but also limits economic development.
This is why the creation of the Surrey Careers Hub just over a year ago has been so important to our regional economy.
We work with more than 97% of secondary schools, colleges, special schools and alternative provisions, connecting them to employers in all sectors.
The aim is to ensure young people have an awareness of the opportunities available to them while making sure education providers know which skills their young people need to succeed once they finish their education.
The Surrey Careers Hub ensures there is a single approach for the whole county. And we can tailor this work to the key sectors which are crucial to our future economy, such as Artificial Intelligence, gaming, creative industries and infrastructure.
By integrating careers provision into the education system, we can bridge the skills gap and create an engaged workforce that is ready to meet the demands of the modern economy.
Enhancing Employability
Equipping students with relevant skills enhances their employability, giving them a competitive edge in the job market.
Skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, oracy (the ability to express yourself fluently and coherently), adaptability, resilience, and digital literacy are increasingly valued by employers.
By fostering these skills early on, we can ensure that young people are not only prepared for their first job, but also have the adaptability to navigate multiple career changes throughout their lives.
Seeing how these skills can be applied to the ‘real word’ is also crucial.
One way we do this is by supporting schools and colleges to provide regular engagement points for their students with employers.
These can range from mock interviews and workplace experiences to big events, such as the recent Surrey Festival of Skills.
We also look to level the field for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, as part of our wider No One Left Behind mission. So, we target our funding and interventions to support those young people who face multiple barriers to engaging in education, have additional needs and disabilities and experience socio-economic disadvantage.
By creating opportunities for all, we’re providing young people with the awareness and confidence to explore the range of opportunities that employers in Surrey can offer.
Aligning Education with Industry Needs
To effectively equip young people with relevant employment skills, it is essential to align the things taught in the classroom with industry needs.
This requires collaboration between educational institutions, businesses, and policymakers at both a national and regional level.
While we work strategically across Surrey, our work is guided and majority funded by The Careers & Enterprise Company, a national body funded by the Department for Education.
It oversees the provision of quality careers education in schools and colleges across the UK. It ensures all activities are aligned to the Gatsby Benchmarks. And has resources so that young people receive the guidance and support they need to make informed career choices.
One way we are doing this is by reinventing work experience, acknowledging that a shift to hybrid working makes intensive weekly or fortnightly programmes during the summer no longer feasible for many employers.
Instead, we are encouraging a shift for students to gain regular experiences of the workplace throughout their time in secondary education. This will include short, targeted workplace visits; one-day project-based experiences; and longer structured placements.
We are also working directly with employers to help them assess, monitor and improve their educational outreach, achieve social value commitments, create a diverse workforce, and recruit local talent into their business.
Promoting Lifelong Learning
Promoting opportunity does not stop as soon as people enter the workplace.
The concept of lifelong learning is becoming increasingly important in today’s world of accelerated change.
By instilling a love for learning and a commitment to continuous skills development, we can ensure that young people remain adaptable and resilient in the face of change.
This mindset not only benefits their personal and professional growth, but also contributes to the overall economic health of the nation.
One way we’re doing that as a team is by running a programme of Teacher Encounters.
This takes subject teachers out of their classrooms and into the workplace. We piloted it last year with the gaming and cybersecurity sectors in Surrey (see our LinkedIn post here).
They learned how their subjects connect to the world of work and which skills employers need in their future workforce.
We are scaling Teacher Encounters this academic year to include a wider range of industries – including construction, highways, creative & cultural industries, engineering and the NHS. If you want to get involved, then please contact us.
There are also many opportunities out there right now for employers to invest in their workforce.
One such as example is the Multiply scheme, which is free for those who do not have a GCSE in maths.
These fun, flexible sessions are available both in person and online. And by encouraging your colleagues to take part you could help improve your business performance in the long run.
These are just some ways we are focused on equipping our young people with the skills to support future business growth. But we cannot do it alone.
The role of employers across the region is crucial to planning how we do this, and also in the delivery.
There are several ways you can support this work.
We’re currently looking for people with business experience to volunteer as Enterprise Advisers. This is a strategic role, working with Careers Leaders in schools to help them develop impactful careers programmes.
It’s a hugely rewarding role. You will have direct influence on the direction of the careers programme in the school you’re matched to. And you’ll help improve the prospects of the young people who attend that school.
