Businesses invited to ‘open the door’ to young people for new campaign

Southwark Business Excellence Awards in partnership with LSBU have launched the Business Open Door initiative to give young people a foot up on the career ladder.​

The borough’s premier business awards and its leading university have teamed up to offer businesses the opportunity to welcome young people who are interested in their industry.​

By providing experience of working life, businesses can offer young people a valuable insight into a variety of career paths.  ​

Businesses are asked to host students between 6 – 24 April, or 6 – 31 July, and offer one or more of the following options:​

1.           One day’s work experience​

2.           One week’s work experience​

3.           A site visit (for construction and engineering companies only) and a tour around your site, which could also include a lunch and learn. ​

4.           Lunch and Learn (for all businesses). A two hour talk between 12pm – 2pm, which would include the business providing lunch for a small group of students.  Young people would learn about the business, its industry and the skills required to work in them.​

LSBU’s Director of Apprenticeships, Alison May, said: “We’re very happy to be able to offer this opportunity to young people who may not have the local networks they need to give them their first step into the world of business. Supporting young people to be career ready is a key focus of LSBU and we are excited to be working with Southwark Business Awards to connect local businesses with the huge amount of young talent we have in the borough.” ​

Southwark Business Excellence Awards Head of Events, Julie Leggatt, said: “As the Southwark Business Excellence Awards have demonstrated, Southwark is a hotbed for unique, vibrant, innovative businesses. By ‘opening the door’, these incredible businesses and entrepreneurs can help the borough’s young people get off to a great start in their working lives. By supporting then, you are also ensuring the next generation has the very skills your industry requires to thrive and grow in the future.​