‘Gold standard' employer engagement in secondary education

Employer engagement is a strategic objective of Roding Valley High School. Careers Leader and Advisor Donna Mason, shares the big impact initiatives as well as advice for developing successful opportunities with schools.

Roding Valley High School’s career programme works with a range of employers across a variety of initiatives to truly raise aspirations, develop key skills and contribute to the personal growth of our students.

Our programme is underpinned by a commitment to the Gatsby Benchmarks. As well as targeting Benchmark 5 (Encounters with Employers and Employees) and Benchmark 6 (Experiences of Workplaces), we strive to achieve Benchmark 8 by evidencing a ‘gold standard’ careers programme accessible to all students.

By ensuring these encounters and experiences happen at different times for different year groups, we support key transitions and help students navigate their future pathways with confidence.

Our programme relies on a variety of engagement methods tailored to the maturity and needs of specific years. Alongside our work experience programme in Year 12, here are the initiatives that have yielded the highest impact.

Year 10 mock interview day

This event is a cornerstone of our Key Stage 4 provision. With a cohort of approximately 240 students, this is a logistical challenge that delivers immense value.

Students prepare by writing a formal CV and cover letter. They are then matched with an employer for a formal interview.
Employers complete a feedback sheet for each student, enabling immediate reflection and growth.
For many students, this is their first professional conversation with an adult who is not a teacher or parent. While nerves are common, the experience is overwhelmingly positive and students grow in confidence. Employers return year after year because they recognise the value for both the student and business.

Annual consortium careers fair

Collaboration is key and very successful. For the past 16 years, I have been a member of the Epping Forest Consortium, a collaboration of six local secondary schools and an FE college.

By pooling resources, we organise a massive Careers Fair with over 60 exhibitors, including national and local employers, universities, and apprenticeship providers. The event attracts over 1500 visitors, including students and parents.
For employers this is an opportunity to showcase their brand, connect with and inspire students, challenge stereotypes and widen participation
Attending annually gives students time to research a company, often leading to offers of work experience and employment opportunities. They build relationships and develop their communication and networking skills. The scale of the event makes it worth the time investment for major employers who might not visit a single school, but will happily attend a consortium event.

Weekly sixth form employer talks

For our Key Stage 5 students, engagement becomes more specific. We host weekly talks where employers/alumni discuss career pathways, necessary skills, and industry insights.

Local employers frequently recruit directly from these talks.
Students often secure work experience placements and, in some cases, mentors who guide them through their early career applications.

Workplace visits

While bringing employers into school is vital, taking students out to the workplace is equally important (Gatsby Benchmark 6). We try to plan these annually into the curriculum, though we remain flexible to ad-hoc opportunities.

Visits allow students to absorb the culture, pace, and environment of a workplace - elements that cannot be replicated in a classroom.
These visits demystify the working world and help students visualise themselves in those environments.

Enterprise activities

To build soft skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience, enterprise activities are integrated into the curriculum.

These are often delivered as drop-down days, workshops or work place visits facilitated by external employers. Students are given real-world business challenges to solve in teams.
These activities move beyond ‘listening’ to ‘doing’. They require students to apply logic and creativity, often under time pressure, mirroring real business scenarios. This helps students understand the behavioural expectations of the workplace.

Advice for employers

Clear objectives are key: Employers should make their objectives clear. Prior to any event, we set out why an employer is there and what success looks like as well as expectations for both parties.
Equalex Framework for work experience: The Careers and Enterprise Company’s equalex framework defines learning outcomes and objectives to enable educators to embed meaningful workplace experiences. Employers can use this framework to consider the value of their work experience opportunity to students.
Feedback is a two-way street: Just as students receive feedback, we value the input of our business partners. We always complete an evaluation to learn and improve where necessary. Employer advice and feedback are invaluable to ensure we develop the right opportunities and that employers return year after year.
Start young, continue often: Employer engagement isn't a one-off event in Year 11. It is a journey that starts with careers lessons and enterprise skills in lower years, moves to exploration in Year 10, and solidifies with networking in Sixth Form. Committing to a regular programme helps employers to build student connections and gives students time to learn and engage with meaningful employer encounters.
Make use of apprentices: Encourage employees to connect back to their school to offer advice, talks or attend careers fairs.
Clarify what is required: Employers may be hesitant to volunteer due to concerns about Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) or Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. They fear the paperwork will be onerous or that they are ineligible without one. Check with each school their safeguarding policy. DBS checks are not always essential. For example, we ensure that school staff are present for all events, at all times.
Timing: Plan well in advance to help ensure the activity is allocated time in the curriculum.
Paperwork: Complete all paperwork in a timely manner as students are unable to participate if the right paperwork is not completed.
Contact the right person: If you want to reach out to a specific school, check the school website and look for the details of the Careers Leader. This information must be published on a school website.

Engaging with employers is not merely a box-ticking exercise to satisfy the Gatsby Benchmarks, it is vital for social mobility and personal development.

Whether it’s a nervous Year 10 student handing over their first CV, a group of students solving a business challenge or a sixth former securing an apprenticeship through a weekly talk, these interactions change lives.

A structured, safe, and objective-driven environment helps ensure that students are not just ready for exams, but ready to make informed decisions about their future.