Teach First calls on businesses to boost careers advice in schools

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) should do more to help improve careers advice in schools and boost young people’s employability, according to Teach First.

In a new report, the charity calls on the UK’s 230,000 SMEs to donate one day of staff time a year to schools, which would result in 10 days of business support per school annually.

Teach first believes that SMEs are well positioned to help boost young people’s employability, with evidence suggesting that employer contact can be worth up to an extra 4.5 per cent in future pay.

In addition to increased contact with SMEs, the report also recommends that each school should have a trained ‘careers leader’ responsible for overseeing a school wide careers and employability strategy.

Sam Freedman, executive director of programmes at Teach First, said: “SMEs are perfectly placed to help inspire the next generation to succeed – whether that means going to university, undertaking an apprenticeship or moving directly into the workplace. Pupils with access to this type of career support at school are more likely to prosper in their future career - so it’s time to make sure all pupils get the opportunity – not just the few”.