Employers, schools and careers:
what constitutes effective engagement?
A NICEC National Network Meeting
Wednesday 21 May 2014, 2.00- 5.00 pm (a light lunch available from 1.15 pm)
At the Education and Employers Taskforce,
2nd Floor, Weston House, 246 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EX
The new arrangements for careers guidance in schools are not working well enough (Ofsted thematic survey, 2013).
The Government’s action plan published in response to the Ofsted report calls on schools to build strong
connections with employers, to ensure that “students can benefit from sustained contact with inspiring people from
the world of work supplemented by purposeful work experience and taster courses”. This has raised important
questions about the relationship between employers’ contributions to students’ learning and progression and
students’ access to impartial careers guidance from careers professionals. There are also logistic and practical
challenges at a time when the statutory requirements on schools to provide work-related learning and careers
education have been removed, along with the funding for education-business partnerships.
The programme for the network meeting provides an opportunity to examine research findings on effective
employer engagement and examples of practice, with a particular focus on identifying the implications for the role of
careers professionals.
Speakers:
Dr Anthony Mann, Director of Policy and Research at the Education and Employers Taskforce, whose report on
Employer engagement in education was published by CfBT in January 2014
Stephanie Burras, Chief Executive of the Ahead Partnership, and Board member for the Leeds City Region Local
Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Bryan Pearce, Assistant Vice Principal, Swallow Hill Community College, Leeds.
Johnny Johnston, Head of Careers Lab Concept, National Grid.
The afternoon will offer full opportunities for participant discussion and debate. As well as plenary question-andanswer and discussion sessions, small-group discussions will consider the particular issues raised for the careers
sector.
About NICEC
The National Institute for Career Education and Counselling (NICEC) is a learned society for all reflective
practitioners involved in career development work. Our network events are participatory and designed to enable
informed discussion on important topics in our work.
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Programme
2.00
Introduction
David Andrews, NICEC Fellow
2.10
Employer engagement in education: what works?
Anthony Mann
2.40
Questions
2.50
Linking employer engagement with careers work in schools: an example of practice
Stephanie Burras and Bryan Pearce
3.20
Careers Lab: lessons from a pilot programme
Johnny Johnston, National Grid
3.40
Tea
4.00
Discussion in small groups
4.30
Plenary discussion
5.00
End of meeting
Booking
Please book with Stephen McNair, NICEC Fellow.
Email stephen.mcnair@niace.org.uk (with NICEC Network in subject line please)
Tel. 01603 737830
To maintain an effective meeting process we limit our capacity to 40 places. Fellows and Members have
priority for booking until 5th May. After that, any remaining places will be allocated to the full NICEC
mailing list on a first come first served basis. If applications exceed this number, a waiting list will be kept in
case there are cancellations.
If your plans change, please email Stephen as soon as possible, so that your place can be reallocated.
Attendance is free of charge to NICEC Fellows and Members. Participants who are not NICEC Fellows or
Members: please send a cheque for £40 as a contribution to speakers' expenses, room hire and lunch, or
bring cash on the day.
Cheques payable to:
NICEC Ltd.,
Dr Charles Jackson (NICEC Treasurer),
9 Preston Park Avenue, Brighton BN1 6HJ.
Ask for an invoice if you need one.
Those who become members of NICEC for 2014-15 will be able to recover this charge.
Personal data
To encourage networking, we normally publish the names and email addresses of all those who attend
NICEC events to other attenders. If you do not wish your name and email address to be circulated in this
way please notify Stephen McNair when you book your place.
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