The Southern Universities Network (SUN) is a collaborative partnership comprising Higher Education providers in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight including in Dorset: Bournemouth University, Arts University Bournemouth and AECC University College.
The SUN provides outreach activities for schools and colleges and was previously part of the National Networks for Collaborative Outreach scheme, a two-year-Office for Students-funded project which ended in December 2016.
In January 2017, the SUN embarked on the Office for Students’ (OfS) National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP) and has been tasked with increasing HE participation in over 70 wards, working with 101 schools and all further education (FE) colleges in the whole region. As directed in OfS guidance, its work is focused on young people in Years 9 – 13 and their ‘key influencers’.
In summer 2019, The SUN sponsored Dorset Chamber’s Young Chamber programme with a view to engaging businesses for careers support and adding value to the NCOP work The SUN already does through the 11-19 Team for Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole where the SUN works closely with schools, colleges and providers across the conurbation to support schools in their delivery of a varied and inspirational careers education for all of young people.
Helen Lewis, Project Leader at Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole’s 11-19 Team, said: “Research from the Education and Employers Taskforce* shows that a young person who has four or more meaningful encounters with an employer is 86% less likely to be unemployed or not in education or training and can earn up to 22% more during their career.
“As Dorset Chamber has a dedicated Young Chamber Coordinator whose role is to talk to the 700+ Dorset Chamber members, as well as non-members, to engage their support for schools across Dorset. To ensure a strong, aspirational programme, it is imperative that we are constantly speaking to and engaging the business community; Young Chamber can certainly support us with that.”
The BCP Council 11-19 Team currently works with numerous local employers to help support schools in the area. They are now creating a database to ensure contact details are kept up-to-date as well as maintaining correct information on what support businesses and individuals are able to offer to schools. To register please visit: https://tinyurl.com/Careers-Support-Register
Joan Senior, Young Chamber Cooridnator said: “Working strategically with organisations such as the Southern Universities Network to raise awareness amongst businesses for the wider needs of schools, students and parents in understanding careers and raising aspirations is a testament to how far careers support has come since Young Chamber launched in Dorset in 2016. We are always both delighted and humbled by the commitment of Dorset Chamber member businesses to the development of the next generation of Dorset’s workforce. By working collaboratively with the SUN and other organisations, we are able to offer schools a far greater cohesive and robust careers support service.”
For more information, contact Helen Lewis, Project Leader at Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole’s 11-19 Team helen.lewis@bcpcouncil.gov.uk