Local businesses have long complained that school leavers do not have the basic employability skills needed to fill the jobs available.  We believe employers have a responsibility to say what they want and be more involved to get more of the skills looked for in young people - tomorrow’s business is about today’s young people.

Our aim is to help you get the best experience of working with MK’s young people.

Our research shows employers are keen to work with young people, and will do more if we provide the right support.  In particular, employers want:

• young people who are better prepared for work
• a clear picture of how employers can help with a young person’s employability journey
• better matching of young people with suitable work experience placements
• an ongoing relationship with a brilliant broker organisation.

That’s us!  We work hard to understand your needs – whether related to staff recruitment, staff development or corporate social responsibility - and connect you with the right activity or activity combination to meet those needs.

Employability

If young people are to stand a good chance of getting a job when they leave school or college they need the ‘employability skills’ demanded by employers. These are the skills which will equip them to adapt to the changing roles that are such a feature of today’s economy.

Employability skills are now generally recognised as a necessary precondition for developing and using other more specialist or technical skills. But ‘employability’ means more than just skills! In March 2007, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) published a report entitled ‘Time Well Spent – embedding employability in work experience’. The report proposed that, in the eyes of employers, ‘employability’ comprised a mix of attributes, skills and knowledge which people needed to have to be effective at work. The CBI’s seven point model, which the Department for Children, Schools and Families supports, (see below) emphasises the importance of personal attributes that contribute to a ‘positive attitude’ – which includes characteristics such as a ‘can-do’ approach, a readiness to take part, openness to new activities and a drive to make those ideas happen. It also highlights the importance of ‘knowledge’ in the sense of understanding the basics of numeracy and literacy, IT awareness and awareness of matters such as the importance of customer care. The attributes, skills and knowledge which form part of employability are summarised in the following diagram and table.

• Self-management - Readiness to accept responsibility; flexibility; resilience; self-starting; appropriate assertiveness; time management, and readiness to improve own performance based on feedback/reflective learning.
• Team working  - Respecting others; co-operating; negotiating/persuading; contributing to discussions, and awareness of interdependence with others.
• Business and customer awareness - Basic understanding of the key drivers for business success, including the importance of innovation and taking calculated risks, and the need to provide customer satisfaction and build customer loyalty.
• Problem solving  - Analysing facts and situations and applying creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions.
• Communication and literacy - Application of literacy; ability to produce clear, structured written work, and oral literacy, including listening and questioning.
• Application of numeracy - Working with numbers and general mathematical awareness and its application in practical contexts (e.g. measuring, weighing, estimating and applying formulae).
• Application of information technology - Basic IT skills, including familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets,file management and use of internet search engines.

Work-related learning – in its various forms – can do much to ensure that young people develop
‘employability’ in the eyes of employers.

For more information about ‘employability’ see: www.cbi.org.uk/pdf/timewellspentbrief.pdf

Education Need

How employers help make work-related learning happen:
• contribute their knowledge, skills, experience and, in some cases, their premises and facilities – through Education Business Partnerships Organisations or through direct contact with schools and colleges.
• provide a range of work related learning activities for learners across the whole education age range including work experience placements, supporting the new Diplomas, and Apprenticeships.
• give presentations about their organisation and/or occupational sector to young people and those involved in their education and training.
• help to run business/enterprise workshops, work simulations and problem solving exercises for students.
• provide coaches or mentors.
• involve themselves in schemes such as Community Engineers, Science & Engineering Ambassadors and Young Enterprise.
• ensure healthy and safe environments for students who take part in work-related learning on their premises.
• provide enterprise, industry and personal development placements for teachers.

Employer Awards

The Investors in Education awards ceremony is the culmination of the academic year where nominations are invited from over 3000 students and a volunteer workforce of 1000 business partners.  It is the opportunity to recognise student achievement resulting from participation in Countec EBP’s activities whilst also acknowledging the tremendous support from employers who have so generously contributed to the success of Countec’s activities over the year.

INVESTORS IN EDUCATION 2009 AWARD WINNERS

In July we celebrate the achievement of young people, employers and staff, at our Investors In Education Awards ceremony, which attracts over 200 guests to the Ramada Encore Hotel, Central Milton Keynes.

 Student Award for Outstanding Achievement on Work Experience – standard placement
Awarded to the individual student who has gained the most from their experience either in terms of personal development, or in relation to their course of study through a one or two week block placement.
Sponsor – Milton Keynes Dons Sport and Education Trust; Marc Collier, Coaching Development and Delivery Manager
Winner – Hafiz Hosaini, Stantonbury Campus

Student Award for Outstanding Achievement on Work Experience – extended placement
Awarded to the individual student who has gained the most from their experience either in terms of personal development, or in relation to their course of study through an extended placement
Sponsor - Ramada Encore Hotel, Central Milton Keynes; Ilhan Kose, General Manager
Winner – Craig Stear, Sir Frank Markham

Employer Award for Outstanding Work Experience Supervision
Awarded to the host company demonstrating sustained commitment and engagement in the employability development of young people during work experience placement(s).
Sponsor - thecentre:mk; Robert Goodman, Centre Director
Winner – Astonlee Veterinary Surgery, Tom Loseby

Young Apprentice of the Year - Year Groups Performing Arts and Art and Design
Awarded to the individual student demonstrating significant achievement throughout the combined YA programme involving both Work Experience and Enterprise learning in school.
Sponsor - FSB and Employer Engagement sub group, 14-19 Partnership; Alan Banks, Chair
Winner – Justin Sanderson, Stantonbury Campus

Equal Choices Outstanding Commitment – Host Company
Awarded to the host company who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and engagement throughout the E=C programme.
Winner – Employer - Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service; Christine Duncan, Partnership Manager
Equal Choices Outstanding Achievement - Student
Awarded to the individual student who has demonstrated significant achievement and outstanding learning throughout the E=C programme.
Sponsor – Milton Keynes College; Julie Mills, Deputy Principal
Winner – Student - Mevish Iqbal, Radcliffe School

Alternative Education Student of the Year – Year 10 + Citischool
Awarded to the individual student demonstrating outstanding attendance and learning progress.
Sponsor - Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, Colin Carswell
Winners - Jordan Sturges, Sophie Greenslade and David Fensome

New for 2009 - The Young Enterprise Achiever of the Year Award
Awarded to the student that has accomplished the most for his or her team. They will have shown great aptitude over the last year as a director of a business in the Young Enterprise Company Programme.
Sponsor - Midsummer Place Shopping Centre; Martin Hindson, Centre Director
Winner – Panuja Vasantharasan, Chair of Loose Marbles

New for 2009 - STEM Ambassador of the Year
The STEM Ambassadors programme enables volunteers who work at all levels in science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) to link with schools to inspire & support pupils and teachers. This award goes to the STEM Ambassador in MK who has done the most this year to show young people how STEM skills can help them to achieve their potential.
Sponsor - The Open University; Stephanie O'Halloran, Staff Placement Manager, Human Resources Development
Winner – Lyndsey Shaw-Greening, freelance Science Communicator, organising the MK Science Festival

New for 2009 – The Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment Student + Employer of the Year
To recognise outstanding student achievement and employer contribution
Joint  Sponsors – Mansell Construction Services Ltd, Fiona Gush, Education Liaison Officer & MK Building Control, Katie Shaw, Assistant Building Control Surveyor
Winner – Student – Lucas Patterson, Leon School & Sports College
Winner – Employer – Rok Building Ltd

Business Ambassador of the Year
Awarded to the business or business person who has demonstrated exceptional commitment working with the Enterprise Team in supporting students throughout the academic year in Work Related Learning activities.
Sponsor – Milton Keynes & North Bucks Chamber of Commerce; Lesley Lynch
Winner – Lincoln Bedeau

Exceptional Contribution
Winner – MK Metro; Nigel Snow, Operations Manager

Overall Best Investor in Education
Company who has demonstrated outstanding commitment and engagement.
Sponsor - Olga Norford – Premier Newspapers, Milton Keynes Citizen
Winner – Madcap Performing Arts Centre, Carolyn Vale