Agreeing what to do

As a result of discussions with a broker or employer, an agreement in principle will hopefully have been reached on how to work together. A formal proposal now needs to be made to the employer, to secure their commitment and resources. The case to be made when approaching an employer for support (a "partnership proposal") should be the same as a business case. It should state:

  • what is to be achieved
  • how it is to be achieved
  • what support will be needed from the employer
  • how the employer's participation in the project will benefit the organisation as a whole as well as the employees.

By presenting the case as a typical business case, employers will be able to quickly assess the proposition and make a decision, as well as propose further discussions about any modifications.

Different employers will be keen to get involved with education for different reasons. Watch the video on the Diploma support programme website to see how consortia delivering the IT Diploma found this to be the case.

Once agreement in principle has been reached, arrangements should be firmed up between the coordinators at the school and employer. Arrangements could include:

  • understanding the responsibilities of each party
  • setting out how contact will be facilitated
  • planning how delivery of projects, visits, talks, etc. will be organised.

 

Practical considerations

There are opportunities for engagement in education for employers with varying objectives and at all levels of preparation and commitment. The advice in this section can apply to any education-employer engagement activity, although it relates mainly to events and activities where the employee is working with a whole class or group of students.

The educational environment can be very different from some employer environments. Employers should be aware of some of the issues they might come across when dealing with schools or colleges.

 

Preparation

Schools and colleges usually require a lot of lead time to plan in activities, so making contact early is essential. From the employers' point of view, it is important to obtain all of the necessary information from a school or college in advance of a visit, as there will be little time on the day to run through last-minute questions. It is also essential to ensure that employees are prepared and have read all the necessary information.

Health and safety

School staff should ensure that employers and employees conform to health and safety requirements and fulfil the school's duty of care. They must also ensure that any employees who come into direct contact with students have a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) certificate. These are issued at no charge to volunteers. Visit the page on CRB checks for more information.

 

 

1Adapted from Corporate Social Responsibility: An Implementation Guide for Business from the International Institute for Sustainable Development