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Enterprise Adviser Network

Kent County Council’s successful first Enterprise Advisor Network (EAN) has now been consolidated by a second brought by the West Kent Partnership.

This means that schools and colleges in Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling; and Tunbridge Wells will be able to join others in Kent who are already seeing the benefits brought to their students by inspirational and knowledgeable partners from the world of work. The Careers and Enterprise Company’s model of Enterprise Advisor Networks (EAN) creates powerful, lasting connections between local businesses and schools and colleges in order to close the gaps in enterprise education, whilst increasing young people’s access to a wide range of employer engagement and activities. Research has shown that young people with at least four encounters with the world of work are 86% less likely to become unemployed in the future.

In the last year Munya Badze, Enterprise Coordinator has engaged a network, funded by the Careers and Enterprise Company and KCC, consisting of 21 schools matched with volunteer Enterprise Advisors from local private, public and third sector organisations. These advisors have been matched to the particular needs of schools and work one-to-one to assist education managers and careers leaders in developing their employer engagement activities. They also help schools to understand the needs of the local economy in order to prepare their students with the skills they need to succeed in the future. Enterprise Advisors draw upon their local and national networks and contacts in order to provide diverse encounters for students with the world of work and a wide range of sectors.

With funding from the Careers and Enterprise Company and the Hadlow College Group, the West Kent Partnership is working to double the number of Kent’s educational establishments, including colleges, whose students benefit from these dynamic EANs. It’s Enterprise Co-ordinator, Simon Harris, is now building the network and will be working closely with Munya and colleagues from other EANs within the SELEP to ensure that the work the Careers and Enterprise Company does nationally can be tailored locally.

The EANs focus on priority economic sectors (Guilds) where there is likely to be labour market growth. EC and EAs work to promote a diverse but highly relevant spectrum of learning pathways including apprenticeships from foundation to degree level. The EAN also provides a growing range of concise, up-to-date and user friendly Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) resources for use by schools and colleges.

Strong links have been formed and are developing with guilds, apprenticeship providers, procurement, Kent Supported Employment, economic development, CIPD and this reflects employer engagement that already exist. Our EANs welcome pre-existing quality resources, networks and information that would help drive growth and success. They will also develop resources that will inspire our future employees and business leaders to help Kent and the UK succeed in fast-changing, constantly evolving local, regional, national and global interconnected economies.

Contact Details

Munya Badze
Email: munya.badze@kent.gov.uk

Simon Harris
Email: Simon.Harris@sevenoaks.gov.uk