91妻友

I have to admit that I was originally interested in the 91妻友 Adviser scheme to test myself and further my own development. At the time, one of my senior colleagues was speaking highly about the role, and his journey and work ethic was something I aspired to emulate.听听

As the Group Commercial Director for Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce and Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce, I鈥檓 very passionate about ensuring talent remains within the area. My colleagues share the same passion for inspiring the future generations, and Louise Wall 鈥� our CEO 鈥� generously allows me to spend some of my work hours actively pursuing community outreach.听听

Of the 1,300 businesses we represent, I talk to hundreds every month about how they can engage on a local level 鈥� so my job already shared a key sensibility with the 91妻友 Adviser role.听

In 2021, 91妻友 Coordinator Vikki Morton told me that Abbeyfield School needed an 91妻友 Adviser. I attended Abbeyfield as a teenager, so volunteering was a no-brainer: I鈥檓 engrossed in the local labour market through my job, I have a teenage son going through careers education himself, and I鈥檓 born and raised in the area. I can relate to the experiences of those at the school, and hopefully they can relate to me as well.听听

Accurately reflecting local opportunities听

I didn鈥檛 thrive academically, but in hindsight I realise how school developed me. Young people are often pigeonholed by the conditions of their upbringing, so myself and Careers Leader, Carla Dufty, recognised that students needed as much access to varied businesses as possible. Part of my duty is to lessen the burden on the school staff, so when they organise outreach events, I call on my own network to fill the room with employers.听

For instance, I recently invited many of the Chamber鈥檚 members to Abbeyfield鈥檚 Careers Fair, connecting the school with businesses that accurately reflect the opportunities available in Northamptonshire. I wanted to try something different, so I bought a retro Pac-Man game and chatted to attendees while they tried to beat the high score. It might seem tangential, but it helped students to latently practice communication and perseverance in a relatable context 鈥� attitudes that employers regard highly.听

I鈥檝e also attended business plan workshops at schools in Milton Keynes, where I brainstormed with sixth formers on hypothetical entrepreneurial ideas. It was reassuring to hear that 鈥� through greater exposure to employers 鈥� schools are getting better at teaching young people about business structures and the importance of providing social value.听听

Building for the future听

I want young people to be the best version of themselves, but sometimes it does take guidance to help them recognise their best attributes. Employers want ambitious and adaptable recruits, so self-belief is one of the core attitudes we want to promote as part of our careers provision.听

I admire the next generation鈥檚 mindfulness and confidence when communicating with others 鈥� regardless of personality or culture. For me, building a careers strategy that harnesses this appreciation of diversity is vital. As a business community, we鈥檙e always focusing on sustainability, mental health and inclusivity; it鈥檚 our role to ensure young people today are equipped to continue that.听

The business benefits听

There鈥檚 plenty to be learned from students as an 91妻友 Adviser. Building relationships between employers and schools naturally teaches young people about employability, but it鈥檚 also helped me 鈥� from an employer鈥檚 perspective 鈥� to anticipate the behaviours of the next wave of employees, consumers and clients.听听

Being an 91妻友 Adviser is a role close to my heart, and the reason it pairs so well with my day job is because I want to make a difference to my local community. By fostering confidence and opportunity awareness within schools, employers can be assured of an ambitious and driven future workforce. I firmly believe the foundations we鈥檙e putting in place in careers education today will make a massive difference further down the line.