Could you be an enterprise adviser?

Cheshire East Council’s Skills and Growth Company is looking to recruit more ‘enterprise advisers’ to help schools and colleges inspire young people and prepare them for the world of work.

Enterprise advisers are volunteers with business experience, who are passionate about helping young people make informed career choices. Using their business experience and networks, they help schools and colleges develop and implement an effective careers strategy to maximise opportunities with local employers.

The enterprise adviser network across Cheshire East is delivered in partnership with the Careers and Enterprise Company –  an established and successful initiative made up of advisers from all types of businesses, the public sector and self-employed. These advisers help young people understand more about the skills local businesses are looking for and the range of job and apprenticeship opportunities available.

Ian Cottrill, business relations director at Franklyn Financial Management, in Congleton, has been an enterprise adviser since February 2018 and is passionate about helping schools and colleges learn more about a career in financial services.

He said: “I have found being an enterprise adviser very rewarding and inspiring. Running events, such as our stock market challenge for schools, helped students understand more about how stocks and investments underpin our global economy and how they can find a rewarding career in finance. 

“I would urge anyone with business experience to join the network and raise the profile of their sector with our future workforce.”   

Julian Cobley, managing director of the council’s arms-length Skills and Growth Company, said: “We are immensely grateful for the time and effort our volunteer enterprise advisers commit to their roles on behalf of our schools and colleges. If anyone would like to join the network please get in touch and help us develop a stronger partnership between education and business.”

For more information on joining the enterprise adviser network please contact:Sam.Norfolk@skillsandgrowth.co.uk