Career Ready links employers with schools, providing a talented pool of students, eager to develop practical workplace skills.
Career Ready (formerly Career Academies UK) is an ambitious business-led charity that helps raise young people’s aspirations and life chances. Career Ready students are 16-18 years old and live outside the gilded world of glass office blocks. With employer support, we get them through those doors. Our mission is to give them the role models and networks to ignite their ambitions, akin to their wealthier peers.
Our programme bridges the gap between education and the world of work by giving young people access to real experience, through mentoring, an internship, masterclasses and workplace visits. A targeted cohort of students participate in the two year Career Ready programme during S5 & S6.
In return, employers have the opportunity to engage with schools in a meaningful and sustainable way. Employees can improve leadership and coaching skills by mentoring a young person, and junior managers can gain practical experience by supporting a student on their internship.
By welcoming students into your business, you are not only giving something back to your local community, there is the potential to begin to build a recruitment pipeline and spot young talent early. Students can bring a fresh perspective to your business and you can gain important insight from your local customers.
The Career Ready model has been highlighted as an example of best practice for business engagement in schools in the latest CBI report, Delivering excellence: A new approach for schools in Scotland.
But don’t just take our word for it:
What our employer supporters say:
“With great processes and highly professional people, Career Ready brings together the skills, energy and resources of employers, students and education partners allowing us all to play to our strengths.” Gary Merrylees, Head of Talent, Diageo plc
What our students say:
“It’s hard to say what the best thing is about Career Ready as I want to say everything! I couldn’t have got to where I am now without my mentor. We talk about everything – school, interviews, applications, life – and set new goals together. I now have big plans for the future all planned out.” Jodi Bratty, Craigmount High School
None of what we do is possible without our partnership approach and employer support from nearly 150 organisations across Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Edinburgh, Fife, Glasgow, Midlothian, Moray and Perth & Kinross. Our employer supporters range from SMEs, such as Branstons Ltd and Johnstons of Elgin, to multinationals, like Aviva, Diageo and Petrofac, and public sector organisations, including The Scottish Government and Transport Scotland.
As we play our part with others to Develop Scotland’s Young Workforce, along with the Chambers of Commerce and their members, there is the opportunity for more businesses to join us, particularly in the areas mentioned and new areas including West Lothian, Lanarkshire, Dundee and Stirling.
How can I get involved?
You can find out more at www.careeracademies.org.uk
We would also be delighted to meet with you to discuss how we might work together. Please contact: Anne Wexelstein, Director for Scotland, Career Ready (previously called Career Academies UK) anne.wexelstein@careeracademies.org.uk
