Enterprise Adviser Network

The Skills and Employability Service was recently awarded part funding from the Careers and Enterprise Company for an Enterprise Coordinator who will broker links between schools/colleges and businesses. The purpose of the Enterprise Adviser Network (EAN) is to create powerful, lasting connections between local businesses and schools and colleges in their area in order to close the gaps in enterprise education, whilst increasing young people’s access to a wide range of employer engagements and activities.

The Careers and Enterprise Company

In 2014, as part of Growth Deals, whose aim is to give local areas powers and flexibilities to design and deliver local services, six Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) each received funding to deliver Enterprise Adviser pilots. In autumn 2015, The Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) was created by the then Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, using initial Government funding to help address the gaps in enterprise education.

The CEC has now taken an umbrella view of the landscape of careers and enterprise education, supporting programme coverage nationally. The Enterprise Adviser Network continues to grow nationally, with over 85 Enterprise Coordinators and nearly 1500 Enterprise Advisers (volunteer business people) recruited.

The EAN In Kent

Munya Badze, our Enterprise Coordinator will initially work with 20 Kent Coastal schools to engage a network of 20 volunteer Enterprise Advisers (1 EA per school) from local private, public and voluntary organisations. Supported by Munya, the Enterprise Advisers will work with a school on a one-to-one basis to assist school leaders and Careers Coordinators with developing and enhancing their employer engagement activities and strategies, thereby helping to develop effective employer engagement by drawing on the Enterprise Adviser’s own local and national business networks; plus all other stakeholders’ existing network and projects.

The EAN will also support schools and colleges to access a range of employers from different sectors, with a focus on priority economic sectors (Guilds) where there is likely to be labour market growth. EC and EAs will work to promote a diverse spectrum of careers and vocational pathways including apprenticeships. As part of the network, the Enterprise Adviser Network will be developing a range of Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) resources that will be available to all schools and colleges.

The EAN aims to have strong links with Guilds, Apprenticeships, Procurement, Kent Supported Employment, Economic Development and HR due to the employer engagement that already exist. EAN would benefit from existing resources, networks, information that would help the network to grow and to develop resources that will inspire our future employees in a dynamic and challenging labour market.

Email Munya.Badze@kent.gov.uk for information and to get involved.

Contact Details

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