Improving Employability: How small businesses can work with schools and colleges to improve young people’s employability skills

National Foundation for Educational Research, London Councils, London Enterprise Panel, South East Strategic Leaders

16 March 2015

A ‘connect card’ has been produced by NFER and three partner organisations to help education organisations - schools and colleges - to develop effective partnerships with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The card contains a checklist of five questions designed to stimulate discussion – one set for schools and colleges and another for SMEs. It also sets out the benefits of engagement for both education and businesses with advice on how to develop effective long-term relationships. Advice for schools and colleges include suggestions for SMEs on how they can get involved, through providing work experience, apprenticeships or having an input into the curriculum. For SMEs the card spells out the benefits of forming links with education, such as helping to produce work-ready employees and helping influence careers education.

The card is one of the outcomes of a research project entitled Improving employability skills, enriching our economy.

This connect card is based on the research reported in the following two reports:

• Improving employability skills, enriching our economy: Summary report
• Improving employability skills, enriching our economy: Case study report