Frequently asked questions and answers - Employer Champions

Q. How is this programme funded?

A. By a grant from the Learning and Skills Council to improve employer engagement with education across Kent.

Q. Who is managing the programme?

A. Kent Works was successful in their bid for the money to establish the programme. Kent Works is the contract holder with the Learning and Skills Council to deliver education business link activity across Kent. Kent Works is part of Kent County Council. For more information about Kent Works, visit www.kentworks.org

Q. Why was the Employer Champion programme established?

A. Vocational education is a high priority on the 14-19 education agenda, and as such, quality and relevant input from employers into the education process is essential. Schools and Colleges are increasingly required to ensure that they have strong links with employers and industry sectors and the Champions programme is an opportunity to formally link education institutions with committed industry professionals at a strategic level.

Q. How long will the programme last?

A. Kent Works has funding to monitor the pilot of the programme until the end of 2007. However, they are committed to ensuring that it continues for as long as it is mutually beneficial for both education and business. As Champions develop strong personal connections with schools and colleges, the ethos of the programme should be self-sustaining.

Q. Will I be working with a specific school?

A. The answer to the question is possibly. The aims of the Champions role are to operate strategically at a senior level, acting as a conduit between industry sectors and education, and also to network on behalf of the education business link concept within their professional capacity.
Champions will liaise with representatives from or directly with 14-19 planning forum groups that operate in geographical areas across Kent. These are: Ashford, Canterbury, Swale and Sittingbourne, Gravesham, Shepway, Maidstone and Malling, West Kent, Dartford, Dartford Wilmington and Thanet and Dover, Deal and Sandwich.
However, if a Champion would like to commit time and resource either from themselves as individuals or on behalf of their company or organisation, then they are free to agree that with schools or colleges - it is not a requirement of the role of Champion to spend a prescribed amount of time in a school’s.

Q. How much time is required to be a champion?

A. Champions are asked to attend quarterly meetings with their planning forum groups or representatives, asked to attend one education business link event per year, one meeting with Kent Works prior to the start of the programme, to network on behalf of education business link activity in general when appropriate opportunities arise and ideally to recruit ten additional champions over the course of the year.

Q. Why do I need to find other champions?

A. Recruiting further champions will contribute to the success and sustainability of the programme and ensure that there is a wide representation of sectors and employers with schools throughout Kent. The more business people and companies committed at this level, the greater the opportunity for schools to benefit from what they and their staff have to offer.

Q. What are some of the activities that my colleagues or I could do with schools?

A. Traditionally employers see work experience as the main way that they can engage with schools and offer opportunities to young people. However, there are a number of other ways to get involved, all with varying degrees of time and resource commitment required. For example: professional development placements for teachers, talks to students, student visits to employer premises, apprenticeships, internships, curriculum advisors, school governors, student mentors, and extended vocational placements.