All employers can make a real and valuable contribution to preparing young people for the world of work. You could offer a work placement, employability skills session, site visit, mentoring or even get involved in shaping the curriculum. The contribution that you make is totally up to you and engagement can be tailored to your business needs.
WOrk placement
We understand that, for many employers, the perception of a work placement is that they are required to offer a traditional week-long placement in the workplace, a format which employers have told us is not always right for their business. This is why work placements have changed and options now range from bite-size placements through to extended placements.
It can be challenging for young people to get their foot on the career ladder. This is why it is so important for them to have as many opportunities as possible to gain real life work experience before entering the world of work. By offering an opportunity which will fit around your individual business, young people are more likely to have a positive, more meaningful experience which will develop the essential core skills that you as an employer are looking for.
If you would like to offer a work placement opportunity or discuss what would work for your business, please contact Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk.
Alternatively, please register your interest on our Get Involved portal and one of the team will be in touch.
It can be challenging for young people to get their foot on the career ladder. This is why it is so important for them to have as many opportunities as possible to gain real life work experience before entering the world of work. By offering an opportunity which will fit around your individual business, young people are more likely to have a positive, more meaningful experience which will develop the essential core skills that you as an employer are looking for.
If you would like to offer a work placement opportunity or discuss what would work for your business, please contact Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk.
Alternatively, please register your interest on our Get Involved portal and one of the team will be in touch.
To read more detail about work placements, please click below to access the Developing the Young Workforce Work Placements Standard.
site visit
There is no better way to allow young people to gain an insight into your industry than to facilitate a school visit to your business. Showing them, and their teachers, around your organisation is a great way of bringing your industry to life; promoting your industry to the next generation and giving people an understanding of the working environment and the opportunities available.
If you would like to offer a workplace visit or find out more, please contact Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk. Alternatively, please register your interest on our Get Involved portal and one of the team will be in touch.
If you would like to offer a workplace visit or find out more, please contact Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk. Alternatively, please register your interest on our Get Involved portal and one of the team will be in touch.
school talk/ presentation
One of the many ways businesses can engage with education is through delivering a school talk or presentation. They can cover almost anything which would be relevant to students and can be for any age;
If you would like to get involved and give a school talk or presentation, please contact Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk. Alternatively, please register your interest on our Get Involved portal with any ideas on talks and presentations you would like to hold.
- a talk about your own journey and how you got to the position you are today e.g. from part time role to managing director
- a presentation to inspire and encourage pupils to consider a job within your sector
- a talk to fit with an aspect of the school curriculum
- an employability talk on how to create a positive first impression
If you would like to get involved and give a school talk or presentation, please contact Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk. Alternatively, please register your interest on our Get Involved portal with any ideas on talks and presentations you would like to hold.
employability activities
From workshops around CV building and filling in application forms to completing a mock interview these are all valuable lessons which you can get involved in to help young people become more ‘work ready’. The time commitment is minimal but the impact of employer input cannot be underestimated.
If you would like to get involved and hold an employability session, please contact Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk. Alternatively, please register your interest on our Get Involved portal.
If you would like to get involved and hold an employability session, please contact Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk. Alternatively, please register your interest on our Get Involved portal.
Careers fairs
A careers fair is one of the best ways to engage with and reach your future workforce. They are an annual event in most secondary schools and, for a small investment in time, present a great opportunity to reach a large number of people. Share your knowledge and engage with young people, and their parents, to offer valuable insight into the careers and pathways available in your company and the benefits of working there. Regardless of the size of your business, this is an opportunity to get involved and help our young people make informed choices about their future.
If you would like to participate in a careers fair please contact Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk or take a look at our DYW calendar of activity to view upcoming events. Alternatively, please register your interest on our Get Involved portal.
If you would like to participate in a careers fair please contact Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk or take a look at our DYW calendar of activity to view upcoming events. Alternatively, please register your interest on our Get Involved portal.
Considering attending a Careers Fair but not sure how to prepare? Or simply want to find out more about it.
Check out our Employer Toolkit – How to get the most from a Careers Event
Check out our Employer Toolkit – How to get the most from a Careers Event
INFLUENCER insight PLACEMENTS
You could offer a placement within industry for influencers (teachers, career advisers and lecturers) which would involve active participation as well as an insight into your sector/ business. Typically, they are one day in length and take place during the month of May. They are suitable for any size and type of business including national, local, entrepreneur or social enterprise organisations.
There are a number of business benefits associated with hosting a placement;
If you are interested in hosting an influencer insight placement or finding out more, please contact Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk. Alternatively, please register your interest on our Get Involved portal and one of the team will be in touch.
There are a number of business benefits associated with hosting a placement;
- An opportunity to influence the influencers
- Enhance the image of your business
- To enthuse and increase understanding of your business/ sector and career opportunities
- Development opportunity for internal staff
- Potential to develop a sustainable link with education and influence the curriculum
- Ultimately to better prepare young people for the world of work
- Low cost investment with potential for wide spread impact
If you are interested in hosting an influencer insight placement or finding out more, please contact Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk. Alternatively, please register your interest on our Get Involved portal and one of the team will be in touch.
Considering hosting a Industry Insight Placement but want to know more?
Check out our Employer Toolkit on Industry Insight Placements – A guide to employers.
Check out our Employer Toolkit on Industry Insight Placements – A guide to employers.
mentoring
By becoming a mentor, you could transform the life of a young person.
Through active listening, encouragement and by providing an independent, non-judgmental sounding board you could make someone feel better about themselves and their future, helping them to overcome any barriers or limitations. Mentors can be from any background or sector and do not require any special skills or qualifications - only the desire to help a young person. Once you have completed the half day training you will be matched with a young person and will meet with them regularly at a time and place convenient to you.
If you would like to become a mentor, please contact Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk. Alternatively, please register your interest on our Get Involved portal.
Through active listening, encouragement and by providing an independent, non-judgmental sounding board you could make someone feel better about themselves and their future, helping them to overcome any barriers or limitations. Mentors can be from any background or sector and do not require any special skills or qualifications - only the desire to help a young person. Once you have completed the half day training you will be matched with a young person and will meet with them regularly at a time and place convenient to you.
If you would like to become a mentor, please contact Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk. Alternatively, please register your interest on our Get Involved portal.
Considering becoming a mentor but want to know more? Check out our Employer Toolkit – Mentoring a Young Person.
SETTING A REAL LIFE BUSINESS tAsK/ PROject
Getting pupils involved in an innovative business project can help them to understand the business world and to learn practical, work-based skills. From a business perspective pupil involvement in projects can add value through the fresh ideas and insight that they can contribute.
Examples may include –
If you have a business task or project which could be mutually beneficial to your company and young people, please contact, Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk, and we can support you in taking the next steps. Have you any ideas or suggestions that you want pupils to be involved in? Register your thoughts on the Get Involved portal.
Examples may include –
- Setting a real-life design brief to rebrand your business image
- Working with a construction firm to design a new building
- Market research project about your product
- Increase your social media presence
If you have a business task or project which could be mutually beneficial to your company and young people, please contact, Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk, and we can support you in taking the next steps. Have you any ideas or suggestions that you want pupils to be involved in? Register your thoughts on the Get Involved portal.
Providing guidance on entrepreneurship
Are you an entrepreneur who would be happy to share your journey with young people and the time, effort and skills required to be successful? Could you get involved in delivering the Borders Young Enterprise Scotland programme as a business adviser, inspirational speaker or part of the Local Area Team?
If you would like to find out more, please contact Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk. Alternatively, please register your interest on our Get Involved portal.
If you would like to find out more, please contact Sara Ward on 01750 505058 or email dyw@dywborders.co.uk. Alternatively, please register your interest on our Get Involved portal.
curriculum development activities
Would you be willing to support teachers to bring the world of work into the classroom? Employer involvement in lesson delivery serves to enhance learning by making a real life explicit link between the what is being learned in the classroom and the workplace.