Employer support
The Diploma in Sport and Active Leisure has been developed, with the help of employers, to give young people the employability skills they need to succeed in their chosen careers or further education.
Employers now have a vital role to play in the preparation for the teaching of this Diploma, and from September 2010 the delivery. There are many ways that all employers from large multi nationals to small and medium sized enterprises, and those in the public or voluntary sector can help.
In order to give young people the skills they need to successfully complete the Diploma it is vital that employers help the delivery of the Diploma by getting involved in work related learning activities. This is not only providing valuable work experience but giving young people a flavour of the working world through such things as site visits, work shadowing, workshops and taking part in industry or career days.
Not only will these activities help young people with their learning but they can also benefit employers by raising their profile in the local community, help with future recruitment needs and reinforce a company’s corporate social responsibility.
We are asking you to get involved with the Diploma in Sport and Active Leisure by initially signing up to become a Diploma Champion. All Diploma Champions are members of the Diploma Employer Champions Network (DECN), which is a Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) initiative.
The DECN has members from national employers, public sector representatives and small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs). It has been set up to encourage and support further long-term employer involvement in all of the 17 Diplomas. The Network is led by Sir Alan Jones of Toyota and includes volunteer champions from Vodafone, BT, Rolls Royce, Compass Group and the British Safety Council.
What does an Employer Champion do?
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Encourages other employers to support the Diploma through personal presentation and media coverage (primarily trade and regional)
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Provides informal advice to consortia on how to best work with employers
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Becoming an Employer Champion on the DCSF Network
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Initial Commitment
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Half day induction, supportive quote for public use and press release announcing appointment
On-going Commitment
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Approximately half day per month for media/speeches/other promotion activities (e.g. business breakfasts, EBP events).
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Attendance at annual conference.
Support for Employer Champion
The Diploma Employer Champions Network DECN) has a unit dedicated to supporting Champions. This provides:
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A regional induction to support new Champions to understand and gain knowledge of Diplomas and the Champion’s role
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A pack of support materials including background briefings, a speech template, frequently asked questions and answersA DECN specific website e-bulletin for regular updates.
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The annual conference with a government minister will cover strategy and progress.
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Support for Champions to pass on feedback and employer expression of interest from events.
Benefits for Employers
These include:
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Opportunity to influence the education young people get in school and college to ensure an easy transition into the workplace
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A reduction in training costs by providing young people with relevant maths, English, ICT and personal learning and thinking skills
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A way for your business to support and participate in the local community
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The opportunity to reduce recruitment costs. Young people will have made career choices based on some knowledge of and experience of the sector
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Confidence that young people will have the employability skills needed for the workplace.
