What we do: Enterprise mentoring
Summary:
Are you concerned about the lack of ‘job readiness’ of many young people? You may have heard that a staggering 89% of the 28 most significant businesses in the UK believe it is vital that employability and enterprise skills are addressed in school…and 75% of the businesses “felt that the British education system is not equipping young people with the right skills for them to enter the workforce.” (Source: Young Enterprise, 2011)
Would you like to do something practical about tackling the growing problem with youth unemployment, the lack of job-ready skills and instead create new opportunities and hope?
Our enterprise mentoring initiatives are a timely step in the right direction for local young people in Key Stages 4 or 5 (age 14-19) and wanting to move on and into work. The scheme has three individual elements:
1. Structured interview skills
2. Mentoring ‘NEETs’
3. Enterprise opportunities
Who is it for?
(1) Structured interview skills are for Secondary School years 10 & 11 (age 14-16) delivered by trained Enterprise Mentors (local business people);
(2) Mentoring support for those at risk of becoming, or are already ‘NEET’ and are aged 16-19;
(3) Enterprise opportunities are for young people either already excluded from or finished with mainstream education. They may be on the NEET Register with Connexions, aged 16-19.
Element |
Age 14 |
Age 15 |
Age 16 |
Age 17 |
Age 18 |
Age 19 |
Interview Skills |
Delivered in school to
Key Stage 4 |
As part of individual
Mentoring support |
Mentoring NEETs |
N/A |
For those in year 11 or out of school / seeking College or work / on
NEET Register |
Enterprise Opps |
N/A |
For those excluded from or finished with mainstream education |
What happens?
The three elements are:
1. Structured interview skills for age 14-16. This is delivered by current local people in business, trained and supported by ourselves. This is delivered in the school setting on an allocated day(s) in the school calendar. Each student has a 20 minute interview with 10 minute of personalised feedback and advice, with a written report. There is a cost per day of provision for the school. Interview skills support can also be provided as part of individual mentoring support for NEETs. Young Enterprise found that 97% of the most significant UK employers found this approach to be ‘effective’.
2. Mentoring NEETs: Individual mentoring for young people at risk of becoming, or already classed as ‘NEET’ (Not in Education, Employment or Training). Our trained mentors work with young people from ‘where they are’ and assist in dealing with background issues (e.g. sleep, motivation, routines) as well as creating access to jobs, courses, apprenticeships, Princes Trust schemes etc. Access to this support depends on external funding being available.
3. Enterprise opportunities: Lifespace works with a number of local business owners who can create bespoke access to employment opportunities. These can be offered to young people who are willing to prove their reliability, dedication, and a positive attitude to learning. In some cases this also leads to completing relevant Level 2 accredited units with the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) regarding enterprise and work. Access to this support depends on external funding being available and current opportunities provided by local businesses.
What next?
Contact us to find out (a) how we can deliver ‘Interview Skills’ sessions in your school (b) if you are, or know of, a young person aged 16-19 and requiring mentoring and support at this time towards getting ready for employability and enterprise (c) if you are a local business person and are interested in making a practical and lasting contribution to young peoples’ futures.
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