OxLEP Skills is supporting The Careers & Enterprise Company’s ‘Give an Hour’ campaign this Volunteers Week (1-7 June), which encourages business people to give a small amount of their time to visit a school and talk to students about their career choices and pathway. The campaign is particularly encouraging those from busy small and medium sized enterprises, who may not be able to spare the time to attend longer careers events, to see the value they can bring in just an hour, for example by giving a careers talk or taking part in a ‘human library’ speed career-networking event.

Apprenticeship Ambassadors Ed, a Degree Apprentice with Nielsen, Ben, an Engineering Apprentice with Element Six and Amelia, an Apprentice Solicitor with law form The Burnside Partnership, spent an hour at Wood Green School in Witney this month, talking to Year 12 students about their Apprenticeship experiences. The Apprentices explained why they chose an Apprenticeship, what their jobs involve and how they will all be able to achieve a degree through their Apprenticeships.

Ed said: “Being an Apprenticeship Ambassador is a great opportunity to help young people know the options available to them after school education. A Degree Apprenticeship at Nielsen has completely changed my career and is giving me the confidence, skills and learning which is contributing to my development. I was given a lot of help from more experienced professionals when I was applying and I know without them I would have struggled. Being able to give back and help others who may be in a similar position, and are motivated to learn is very rewarding.”

Assistant Head of Sixth Form Steph Jones said: “For the students to actually hear from the three Apprentices really brought Apprenticeships to life. They were able to give our students advice and an insight into applying, as well as life as an Apprentice. Some of our students didn't know too much about the opportunities offered by Degree Apprenticeships, but are now thinking carefully about what their future options could include.”

Could you get involved in the ‘Give an Hour’ campaign? In just an hour, you could make a difference to the choices a young person makes about their future. Was there someone in your life that made a difference to the career choices you made? Could you be that someone for a young person today? Could you open the eyes of a young person to an exciting or fulfilling career that they didn’t even know existed?

You could be the person who changes the life of a young person, just by showing them what is possible. Inspiration comes in many forms – by sharing your story, you could inspire a young person to follow your path.

There are lots of benefits to your business too – becoming known as a local employer, promoting the opportunities you provide and potentially finding your next Apprentice!

To find out how you could get involved in our work with schools, please email skills@oxfordshirelep.com.