Your business experience can inspire and engage young people. Your knowledge can help them make informed choices as they plan their next steps towards a career.
As an Education Business Partner (EBP), you have the opportunity to make a real difference to young people’s futures while contributing your professional expertise in a way that fits your skills, experience and availability.
We recognise that every volunteer brings different strengths. That’s why we offer a range of focused, short-term projects that allow you to choose an area where you can have the greatest impact. Whether your expertise is in strategic planning, recruitment, communications, employer engagement, networking, data analysis or education partnerships, there is a project to match your interests and experience.
What is an Education Business Partner?
As an Education Business Partner (EBP), you will act as a bridge between education and the world of work, helping schools and colleges create meaningful opportunities that prepare young people for their future careers.
Education Business Partners bring valuable professional expertise, industry knowledge and business networks to support careers education, employer engagement and workforce readiness. Rather than committing to a long-term volunteering role, you can contribute through a range of focused projects that match your skills, experience and availability.
Whether your background is in leadership, strategic planning, recruitment, communications, employer engagement, networking, data analysis, skills development or education partnerships, you can help schools and colleges strengthen their careers programmes and improve outcomes for young people.
By sharing your expertise, insights and connections, you will help educators better understand employer needs, support students to develop essential skills, and create stronger links between learning and future employment opportunities.
As an Education Business Partner, you can:
- Share professional expertise to support careers education and employability.
- Help schools and colleges build stronger links with employers and industry.
- Contribute to short-term projects aligned to your interests and experience.
- Support Careers Leaders to develop sustainable, impactful careers programmes.
- Inspire and inform young people about future education, training and career pathways.
- Help create a talent pipeline that supports local economic growth and social mobility.
This flexible approach allows you to make a meaningful difference while contributing in a way that works for you and your organisation.
Meet our Education Business Partners
Amy Lamph
Employment: BAE Systems
Sector: Defence/Advanced Manufacturing
Supporting: Ulverston Victoria High School
Becky Linton
Employment: Cumbria CVS
Sector: Third Sector (Voluntary Services)
Supporting: James Rennie School
Brett Dayton
Employment: Westmorland and Furness Council
Sector: Local Government
Supporting: Agile Education Business Partner currently supporting Newbridge House with Employer Engagement
Jen Hewitt
Employment: Paragon Vets
Sector: Animal Care
Supporting: Caldew School
Christina Jones
Employment: Sellafield Limited
Sector: Nuclear
Supporting: Richard Rose Morton Academy
Claire Campbell
Employment: BAE
Sector: Advanced Manufacturing
Supporting: Agile Education Business Partner
Claire Roper
Employment: Sellafield Ltd.
Sector: Nuclear
Supporting: Cumbria Academy for Autism
Dawn Watson
Employment: Sellafield Ltd
Sector: Nuclear
Supporting: Agile Education Business Partner
Gemma Harrison
Employment: Morgan Sindall Infrastructure
Sector: Nuclear
Supporting: West Cumbria Learning Centre
Jayne Moorby
Employment: Oxley Group Ltd
Sector: Advanced Manufacturing
Supporting: Furness Academy
Lucy Hogg
Employment: Waitings Ltd
Sector: Construction
Supporting: Agile Education Business Partner
Lyndsey Fitheridge
Employment: Foxgroves Recruitment
Sector: Training & Recruitment
Supporting: Agile Education Business Partner
Mark Cant
Employment: Self-Employed
Sector: Engineering Commissioning
Supporting: Agile Education Business Partner
Mark Johnson
Employment: H&H Land and Estates
Sector: Professional Services
Supporting: Queen Katherine School
Maxine Reynolds
Employment: Retired
Sector: Information Management & Technology
Supporting: Dowdales School
Michelle Wiggins
Employment: Inspira
Sector: Third Sector
Supporting: The Gillford Centre
Mike Jeschke
Employment: Siemens Energy
Sector: Advanced Manufacturing
Supporting: John Ruskin School
Mike Nicols
Employment: PacTec EPS Ltd
Sector: Nuclear / oil & gas / hazardous wastes
Supporting: West Lakes Academy
Robert Walker
Employment: Technical Sourcing Recruiter
Sector: Information Technology
Supporting: Beacon Hill Community School
Roger Wilson
Employment: Roger J Wilson Associates Ltd
Sector: Professional Services
Supporting: Queen Elizabeth School and Studio
Sharon Brook
Employment: North Lakes Hotel & Spa
Sector: Hospitality
Supporting: Samuel Kings School
Role Summary
As an Education Business Partner, you can:
- Share professional expertise to support careers education and employability.
- Help schools and colleges build stronger links with employers and industry.
- Contribute to short-term projects aligned to your interests and experience.
- Support Careers Leaders to develop sustainable, impactful careers programmes.
- Inspire and inform young people about future education, training and career pathways.
- Help create a talent pipeline that supports local economic growth and social mobility.
Become an Education Business Partner
EBP training and development opportunities
When you become an Education Business Partner, you won’t be expected to work alone.
Our Careers Hub team will provide:
- A full induction and Education Business Partner handbook
- Training tailored to your role and chosen project
- Ongoing guidance and support from the Careers Hub team
- Access to resources, frameworks and best practice
- Introductions to Careers Leaders and education settings
- Regular check-ins throughout your project
We will work with you to identify a school and/or project that aligns with your skills, interests and location, ensuring your contribution is both rewarding and impactful.
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