From October 2011, registrations began for schools, colleges and employers. Inspiring the Future will be publically launched in July 2012. This is being done in stages to allow a critical mass of volunteers to build before we begin making connections with schools and colleges.
We are currently asking large national employers, and professional bodies to encourage their staff to agree to identify themselves as people willing to go into a school or college once a year to talk about their jobs.
The programme will offer English secondary schools and colleges a chance to find volunteers for a range of activities beginning with giving short 'Career insight' talks, and/or 'Enterprise' talks. During 2012 we plan to extend the options menu to include:
During 2012, as well as expanding the activities available, we will also target small and medium sized enterprises and their employees. English primary schools will be brought on board in 2013. We are also planning to work with universities to enable their students to volunteer by the end of 2012.
The reason that primary schools will be included is that young people form ideas about themselves and possible careers before secondary school. Small and medium sized enterprises are vitally important because the majority of the population works in these organisations. And we want universities to be involved because it is more important than ever to know from first-hand accounts what it is like to study different subjects at university, hence current and recent graduates can play a key role in informing slightly younger people.