Careers Summit

The Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Swindon Borough Council and Wiltshire Council delivered the Swindon and North Wiltshire Careers Summit on 22nd November 2018. The event was supported by the Careers and Enterprise Company and was attended by 35 delegates from a range of schools, colleges and education providers. They were joined by 10 Enterprise Advisers from local businesses, 9 stakeholder organisations as well as the Swindon Borough Council Leader, Cllr. David Renard. The focus of the day was on delivering good quality and inspirational careers education, information advice and guidance to young people.

Presentations were given by Paddy Bradley, SWLEP Director and Sally Burnett, SWLEP Skills Lead on the local employment picture and why the work of the Careers Hub and Enterprise Adviser Network are important to young people in developing their progression opportunities. Suzy Wright, Regional Lead from the Careers and Enterprise Company, presented on their journey so far and the positive impact employer engagement and careers guidance is having on a national level as well as plans for the future.

Louise Stanton, the Careers Leader from Malmesbury School gave a presentation on how her school had achieved all 8 of the Gatsby Benchmarks, a good practice framework in relation to careers advice and education.  Additionally Shona Taylor, Careers Hub Lead gave a presentation on the role of the Careers Leader.

Alison Bond, Senior Employer Engagement Manager from the Careers and Enterprise Company presented to delegates on the importance of engaging employers in careers education and the role Cornerstone Employers will have as part of the Careers Hub work. She was joined by Daniel Busson, from Capita, an Enterprise Adviser and Lead Employer representative for the Careers Hub, who spoke on his experience of working with a local school and the benefits this can have for local businesses and for young people entering the world of work.

During the lunch period delegates were able to network with a range of stakeholders; Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge (ASK), Work Wiltshire, Swindon Learning Town, Work Ready Schools, Inspiring Futures, Villiers Park, University of the West of England, Education Business Partnership: West Berkshire and Study Higher on the range of different offers and opportunities  available to them and their students.

A second Careers Summit is planned for South Wiltshire early in 2019.