By: Smita Solanki, Enterprise Co-ordinator, Local London Careers Hub East
As we approach Learning Disability Week, let us take a moment to share the incredible things people with a learning disability can achieve, and shine a light on how SMEs can support this change.
In the UK, the percentage of working adults with a learning disability in paid employment before the pandemic was 5.9%. This has fallen to 4.8% (BASE), a disappointing statistic we strive to change. One way we are working to improve the situation is by connecting employers with schools through their careers programmes. The need for this kind of engagement is even more pressing for the SEND community, as a group who has not always been given the support they deserve.
At Local London Careers Hub East, we have a dedicated team who work together with schools, special schools, colleges, and alternative provisions to enhance careers provision. At present we work with over 200 schools across 9 boroughs – Enfield, Redbridge, Havering, Newham, Waltham Forest, Barking & Dagenham, Bromley, Greenwich, and Bexley to support schools develop exciting and effective programmes. We also work with employers to change the landscape of career choices and opportunities available to our young people.
How can SMEs make a difference?
As part of our role at the Careers Hub, we engage businesses and introduce business volunteers to schools, known as Enterprise Advisors (EA). Across our boroughs, there is a network of 126 Enterprise Advisors who work strategically and operationally with Careers Leads and other staff at the schools.
As an Enterprise Advisor, you can introduce students to the world of work from your unique experience and help enhance the schools’ careers education programme. SMEs represent approximately 30% of our Enterprise Advisors bringing their business into the school community and making a difference in the choices students make.
As part of the Enterprise Advisor Network, you will be invited to networking events and have access to training and professional development, including our extensive Digital Hub resource. There are also benefits to you through raising your company’s profile, creating social value, and possibly even growing a talent pipeline for future recruitment.
“Being a small business owner, it helps me raise my profile and also have access and links into the community I wouldn’t have otherwise.”
– Dan English, Enterprise Adviser
Students with learning difficulties in particular struggle to access employer encounters, so by having a business presence in a school you can start to ‘rewrite the story’.
How have SMEs supported Special Needs schools?
Katie Osborne has been an EA at the Local London Careers Hub East since January 2021 and has worked closely with SEND schools across Enfield and Havering. Katie set up her own HR consultancy, Focus on the Balance, to support small businesses with HR issues. She has over 20 years of HR experience which she has been able to use with our schools and students to help the local community.
Over the years, Katie has seen a progression of skills development as she volunteers at our Enfield SEMH (Social, Emotional, Mental Health) school. She has run workshops on CV writing and interviews, covering topics such as where to look for a job, what to look for in the advert, CV preparation, and the interview process, including what to wear and think. During the individual meetings, she reviewed their CVs and discussed their experiences, what roles they might be interested in, and a few next steps around further study. When feeding back on the success of her work, Katie says: “For some, this is the third time I have met them/seen their CV and it is fantastic to see how much more content they are adding and the advice they have taken on board so far.”
Last month, Katie also ran a Q&A session at a SEND school in Havering. This provision supports 16-24 year-olds who have an EHCP (Education Health Care Plan) with employability pathways. Students prepared beforehand and asked a range of questions regarding work patterns, job roles, and insights into different job roles. This was the first time students had access to an employer in school and their experience was positive and thought-provoking. The careers lead at the school said afterwards that “It was great to see the confidence in the students being able to talk to someone new to them. This session provided the students with more than just information about careers, it helped to show the skills needed to interact with new people.”
Careers can work in different ways to meet the needs of special needs students. Last month, I was invited to the Secondary 4 Business Launch at Waverley School in Enfield. At this school, all students are involved in one of the following business enterprise ventures: Café, Eco Shop, Printing Business and Cleaning Business. They have a bespoke working environment for their students, and they shared videos, presentations, and samples of the great work the students have produced over the year. The Eco shop made bath bombs, the printing shop made t-shirts and tote bags to sell, and the café offered all the visitors delicious cake to eat. The energy in the room was infectious and an inspiring model of how professional skills can be delivered in a SEND setting.
This is just a snippet of the great work SEND students are doing in our area, and how businesses can support the journey and make a difference to the students’ career opportunities. We have SEND careers fairs coming up and networking events to support SEND schools across our 9 boroughs. Every small step together can open a door and be the beginning of something new.
To find out more
Stephen Snell, Employment Engagement Officer Stephen.snell@redbridge.gov.uk
Smita Solanki, Enterprise Co-ordinator smita.solanki@redbridge.gov.uk
There is more information here on the Enterprise Adviser role.
https://focusonthebalance.co.uk/
https://www.careershub-east.london/
*We strive to do our best when supporting small business and their growth. Our business databases can give you information and data that can help you with advertising, market research, company information, and industry factsheets. If you have already taken the plunge, we would love for you to join us at a seminar, our workshops cover digital marketing, business model canvas and planning, demystifying taxes and intellectual property to name a few. Visit our events page or website for more information.
Small Business Research and Enterprise 