Every pupil should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment opportunities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes, and could include pupils’ own part-time employment where it exists.
- Every year, from the age of 11, pupils should participate in at least one meaningful encounter with an employer.
Criteria for colleges
- Every year, alongside their programme of study, learners should participate in at least two meaningful encounters with an employer. At least one encounter should be delivered through their curriculum area.
Definition of ‘Meaningful’ for Benchmark 5
A meaningful encounter gives the young person the opportunity to learn about what work is like, what skills are valued in the workplace, their recruitment processes and what it takes to be successful. Throughout a careers programme, young people should encounter employers of different sizes and specialisms, including the self-employed, that reflect trends in the labour market, regionally and nationally. These encounters could be in person or a combination of in person and virtual, where appropriate. Both the young person and employers should be supported to prepare for the encounter. Additional or different support may be needed for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people and for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
A meaningful encounter will:
- have a clear purpose, which is shared with the employer and the young person
- be underpinned by learning outcomes that are appropriate to the needs of the young person
- have opportunities for two-way interactions between the young person and the employer
- be followed by time for the young person to reflect on the insights, knowledge or skills gained through the encounter
Resources to help achieve this benchmark:
| Resource | Description | Links & Downloads | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CEC Resource Directory | CEC Gatsby Benchmark 5 overview and links to resources | CEC Resources |
| 2 | Making it Meaningful Checklist | This checklist is designed to help Career Leaders ensure each encounter or experience is meaningful for all participants and will ensure quality and consistency to the activity. The checklist is specifically for use in careers activities involving an employer or FE/HE provider. | Download |
| 3 | Employer Talk Guidance | A guidance document that can be shared with employers prior to them giving an employer talk. This is also available in the employer section of the Careers Hub Website. | Download |
| 4 | Student Research & Questions Task | Research task to be completed by student prior to meeting an employer with suggested questions to ask during an employer talk. | Download |
| 5 | Student Feedback Form – Employer Encounter | Microsoft Forms questionnaire for students to give feedback following an employer encounter. | Download |
| 6 | Careers Day Case Study | A case study highlighting how James Rennie School created an inclusive careers event for students and local businesses. | Download |
| 7 | Mini Sector Sessions Case Study | An idea for incorporating employer talks into the regular school timetable. | Download |
| 8 | Brookefields School (D & I) | A short video on how Brookefields Special School creates Employer Engagement, working in partnership with Talentino! | Watch |
| 9 | Advice for Students | To help your students get the best out of employer encounters use this 4 minute video where two year 12 students share theirs and their peers views about getting the best out of employer encounters. Isla and Amy spent their Dream Placement with Cumbria Careers Hub, this involved undertaking research with their peers, analysing the data and creating this short video about how young people can make the most of career guidance opportunities. | Download |
| 10 | Advice for Employers | Share a link to this video with your employers to help them prepare for a meaningful encounter with your students. Isla and Amy spent their Dream Placement with Cumbria Careers Hub, this involved undertaking research with their peers, analysing the data and creating this short video about what they value most from employers offering career guidance opportunities. | Download |
| 11 | Employability Skills Videos | This resource has been developed by the East Sussex Careers Hub team and contains 10 videos to support understanding of the link between the world of work and employability skills | Employability skills videos | CEC Resource Directory |
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