Employer Engagement Action Plan

Durham Education Business Partnership brokers a number of education business links for educational providers in County Durham. It has dedicated teams of staff working with employers to raise awareness of the educational agenda and to seek their support to enhance learning. Employer Engagement is integral to the Work Related Learning strategy for County Durham and the focus of the Education Business Partnership in future will be to ensure that the Work Related Learning offer to Schools meets the needs of the changing curriculum as well as the needs of the employers who support it.

Work Experience

The Work Experience team offer a range of Work Experience opportunities for learners. Work Experience at KS4 has traditionally been offered as a block placement of one or two weeks. However placements are possible, and encouraged over a longer period of time on a one day a week basis. Other models have also been developed to support Young Apprenticeship programmes and work is in progress to support Diploma students. Further information available from Jaqui Gardiner Work Experience Manager

Work Related Learning

The Work Related Learning Team offer a range of activities and programmes to Schools related to the enterprise and employability skills agenda. All activities are supported by employers, most of whom have been recruited as Business Ambassadors.
Further information on programmes available from Anne Gibbs EBP Manager

Employer Engagement

This team was formed in September 2008 with a remit to develop learning packages to support the introduction of the Diplomas. Staff worked initially on employer support for Construction and Creative and Media and a number of opportunities were identified with companies where they could support student learning. The team will respond to requests for bespoke activity with employers to support the curriculum.
In addition the team are concentrating on a one school one employer model of engagement to enable students to ‘Learn the Business’. This programme aims to develop generic employability skills through a range of activity led by the partner company. Seven pilots are underway and there are plans to begin a county wide roll out from September 2011. Further information available from Janette Marquiss Carr Employer Engagement Coordinator

Learning Development

This team focuses on developing high quality simulated learning opportunities at The Work Place in Newton Aycliffe. A number of programmes support the Health and Social Care and Science curriculum through the use of the Health Tec. All programmes are supported by health service professionals. A well equipped workshop also provides opportunities for a range of industry supported activity related to manufacturing, enterprise and construction. Further information available from Angela Wilkinson Learning Development Team Coordinator

Future Plans

Development of the EBP database to provide a framework for employer engagement
Extending the remit of the Employer Engagement team
Development of new packages of learning to support the curriculum
Development of new models of work experience linked to learning outcomes
Exploration of strategic partnerships with industry sectors
Development of simulated learning opportunities with employer support
Revision of the Business Ambassador programme to meet the needs of employers and educational providers

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