The Cheshire and Warrington Pledge Partnership: Employers
Employers
The Pledge Partnership includes, the Cheshire and Warrington Careers Hub who support schools and colleges with their careers planning, and a delivery arm that fulfils employer engagement activity, connecting local employers
with schools and colleges across the region.
We also support employers, education and other partners to develop best practice and build capacity, for example through networking meetings and individual support.
How we help Employers
• Inspire and inform – we help young people make decisions about local career opportunities and pathways.
• Make a difference – we influence schools and colleges to change the face of education.
• Connect with your future inclusive workforce to ensure they are employment-ready.
• Help bridge the local skills gap and build your talent pipeline.
• Share best practice and stay informed about the local changing business and education landscape.
• Create an impact – deliver social value in your local community.
The Pledge Partnership is split into 7 Pledge Areas to ensure young people capitalise on opportunities on their doorstep. However, there are opportunities to work within your local Pledge area or across the region. Being part of The Pledge Partnership you will join a network of over 400 employers, all state-funded secondary schools and colleges, most special and alternative provision schools, all local authorities and youth and community groups.
Employer and Education – Engagement Offer 2023/24
The Employer and Education Engagement Offer is not a wholly comprehensive offer but gives a flavour of the types of activity that can be delivered though our flagship programmes which have been honed over several years collaboratively with our stakeholders. We also have a Health and Social Care NHS offer that interweaves into all our provision but also has a stand-alone employer engagement programme of delivery.
Please note that all our programmes can accommodate adaptations to meet the needs of all young people, including
those with special educational needs or disabilities.
Universal Offer
Open to all state-funded secondary and special schools and colleges in Cheshire and Warrington.
Town-Wide Careers Fairs – Multi School/College and General Public
When: September / October
Year Group(s): Year 9 – Year 13
Size: Whole year groups
Duration: Typically 1 hour per school session during the day. Open to the public from 4pm onwards.
Delivery: Face-to-face
Impact: Supports Gatsby Benchmarks 2, 3, 5, 7 and provider access expectations, plus a chance for young people to source work experience, volunteering or enrichment opportunities.
Targeted Offer
Eligibility criteria applies, typically based on Free School Meals.
Pledge Intensive Employability Programme *Delivered in Cheshire East and Cheshire West
When: September starts
Year Group(s): Year 11-12 (aged 16/17)
Size: 20 per cohort (Approx. 200 total per Local Authority – Cheshire East and Cheshire West only)
Duration: 9 months
Delivery: Face-to-face
Impact: Supports Gatsby 2, 3, 5, 6, 7. Helping build employability and life skills as well as experiences of the workplace.
Commercial Offer
• For schools/colleges who do not meet any of the criteria offer above
• Employers wishing to develop or need support with outreach or want to deliver out of area
• Schools/ colleges/ employers who are out of the Cheshire and Warrington area
• Bespoke – we can work with you as a school/college or employer to help develop outreach programmes to suit your needs.
You can view our Pledge Core Offer for Employers and see a summary of our package of support.
GET IN TOUCH-
Developing a talent pipeline and recruitment support
The Cheshire and Warrington Pledge Partnership connects employers directly by engaging with educators and young people to help bridge the local skills gap, increase visibility and build your talent pipeline. The Pledge Partnership also work with employers to share best practice, supporting companies to understand how to take on new talent through internships, apprenticeships and experiences of the workplace. The Pledge Partnership can share your vacancies and news across our networks via newsletters and social media.
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Inspire and inform about careers locally
The Pledge Partnership understands and acknowledges that there is a mismatch between skills young people choose to acquire and career paths they pursue and what employers in the locality need. The Pledge Partnership provides the opportunity for businesses to directly inspire and inform young people about what opportunities are available and what employers are looking for throughout schools outreach activity.
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Help schools and colleges shape futures
Make a difference – Influence schools and colleges to change the face of education
The Pledge Partnership provides an opportunity for those who want to volunteer from a business, called Enterprise Advisors, to be matched with a school or college to work directly work with the Career Leader and Senior Leadership Team within a school to help impart employer insight as well as their share expertise to help continue develop and deliver a whole-schools careers plan.
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Business networks and sharing best practice
Share best practice and stay informed about the local changing business and education landscape
As a member of The Pledge Partnership, you can also access the wider networks. You can attend your local Pledge Hub Meetings once per quarter to build your local business and education connections and share best practices. Take a look at The Pledge’s upcoming events here.
The Cheshire and Warrington Pledge Partnership is here to support your business:
Pledge Areas
Find your local area here
Pledge Areas
Employer Engagement Activities
The core offer puts employers at the heart of inspiring the next generation of young people in Cheshire and Warrington.
Employer Engagement Offer
Enterprise Advisors
Help bridge the gap between the world of work and education, working with the Careers Leader and wider senior leaders of the school or college to create opportunities for young people.
Enterprise Advisers
