Careers initiative inspiring young people toasts landmark

A careers initiative backed by Derby City Council is celebrating after supporting its 50,000th pupil.

E4E, which was established in 2014, provides CV writing workshops, mock interviews, mentoring and a Dragons’ Den-style Enterprise Challenge Day, where pupils from city secondary schools pitch a project to business leaders who volunteer for the session.

The project, which is supported by more than 600 volunteers from various businesses including Rolls-Royce, Bowmer + Kirkland and Toyota Manufacturing UK, recently reached its impressive milestone when it helped 15-year-old Kacie Behan, from Da Vinci Academy, participate in a mock interview.

Councillor John Whitby, the city council’s cabinet member for children’s social care, learning and skills, said: “Our aim is not only to raise aspirations of young people in Derby, but to also help boost their self-confidence and knowledge of careers and opportunities post-16.

“E4E aims to bridge the gap between school and employers by giving pupils the opportunity to meet business leaders in a familiar setting.”

Ian Morgan, chair of Derbyshire County Cricket Club and soon-to-be High Sheriff of Derbyshire, said: “I have been volunteering for E4E since 2016 and every year I wish that I had found time to do more.

“It is a transformational project that helps young people to improve their chances of transitioning from school to the world of work.

“You meet so many young, talented people who all have talent, but many do not know just how much.

“The confidence and reassurance that they get from spending even a short time with employers is invaluable and palpable.”

Emma Hibbert, from Bowmer & Kirkland, has been involved with E4E for several years and sits on the board.

She said: “Careers education in schools has changed so much, particularly over the last five years.

“There have been huge transformations in schools using the Gatsby Benchmark – eight markers that provide a clear framework for organising the careers provision in schools and colleges – and the bar is now raised.

“The events we arrange are hugely beneficial and for the first time ever, E4E has started offering its services outside of the city, having recently undertaken mock interviews at Ripley Academy.

“For schools to organise something like mock interviews, it can be hugely time consuming; E4E has a huge pool of volunteers from various sectors – global organisations, as well as successful SMEs, including HR and employment law firm Precept and PR company Penguin PR, which we can tap into.

“We couldn’t do all this, though, without the help and support of our volunteers and I’d like to thank them, too, for their help with E4E and on helping us to reach this incredible milestone.”