Flagship community of employers join forces

Cornerstone Employer group

Following the launch last month, the South East Midlands Careers Hub hosted its first Cornerstone Employer Group. Cornerstone employers work collectively across the region to influence and inspire young people, working with the Careers Hub to help create world class careers education at scale. 

During its first meeting on Wednesday, 29th March, discussion centred on the core themes of profiling different roles and pathways into them, including apprenticeship and vocational routes and how to inspire young people to enter particular industries such as construction, conservation and logistics to build a future talent pipeline and help to fill skills gaps. Solutions were explored around how to ensure under represented groups and those young people facing most barriers are supported to reach their potential when they leave education. Employers shared current activity and social value and, early career strategies.

Key actions pledged by the Cornerstone Employer group included:
• Promotion internally and within supply chains of the Enterprise Advisor role and Give an Hour campaign to all employees
• Completion of the National Employer Standards to review how each employer is currently engaging with schools and colleges to provide a benchmark
• Commitment to engaging in careers activities for young people with Special Education Needs and providing more experiences of the workplace to our most vulnerable young people

Representatives attended from Careers Enterprise Company, SEMLEP, Zoological Society of London, CILT (UK), Connells Group, Shoosmiths, HSBC, Prologis UK, John Lewis & Partners, Travis Perkins, Santander UK, Morgan Sindall Construction, Goodwill Solutions, GXO Logistics, Kier Construction.

For further information about how to get involved as a Cornerstone Employer or in any of the Careers Hub activities as a business volunteer, go to: https://www.semlep.com/careers-hub-get-involved/

The South East Midlands Careers Hub is funded by, the Careers and Enterprise Company, SEMLEP, The Connolly Foundation, Luton Borough Council and Tresham College, part of the Bedford College Group.