Careers & Enterprise Company programme

The national Careers & Enterprise Company programme works to bridge the gap between education and employment, to give young people the best possible start to their working lives. The programme is delivered locally by Hertfordshire LEP and YC Hertfordshire. 

Our Enterprise Adviser Network is made up of local business leaders who work closely with schools to enhance careers education, prepare young people for the future, and provide opportunities for interaction with employers.

Our Hertfordshire Careers Hub enables greater collaboration between clusters of schools by linking Careers Leaders, Enterprise Advisers and our Cornerstone Employer Group (a network of local businesses).

Enterprise Advisers are local business leaders who support schools with their careers programmes on a strategic level. Our Enterprise Adviser Network is made up of 114 volunteers who provide the voice and insight of industry to ensure schools prepare young people for the world of work.

How does it work?

Enterprise Advisers are matched to specific schools. Supported by our team of Enterprise Coordinators, Enterprise Advisers meet with the Careers Leader at their matched school at least three times a year to discuss how the school can develop its careers education programme in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks (the national framework used to assess the quality of a school’s careers education programme) and the skills needs of local employers. Enterprise Advisers also have opportunities meet and share ideas with the wider Enterprise Adviser Network at a variety of events throughout the year. 

Get involved – volunteer as an Enterprise Adviser:

We are always keen to hear from businesses looking to join our Enterprise Adviser Network. Whether you wish to support a school on an ad-hoc basis or over a sustained period, we will be able to signpost you accordingly.

To register your interest in becoming an Enterprise Adviser, please email gareth.dace@hertfordshirelep.co.uk to arrange an initial discussion. We have particular need for new Enterprise Advisers in the Broxbourne area and to support some of our Special Schools.

Supporting employers:

We work to support employers of all sizes, and from across all industries, to become proactive in engaging with schools and young people.

The Hertfordshire Careers Hub complements the Enterprise Adviser Network by providing intensive support to two targeted clusters of schools. Within each cluster, it facilitates greater collaboration between Careers Leaders, Enterprise Advisers, and our Cornerstone Employer Group (a group of local businesses that support the hub).

The hub’s first cluster was established in September 2019 and is comprised of 26 schools and colleges across North Herts, Stevenage and Welwyn Hatfield. The second cluster was established in September 2020 for an initial 12 months, and includes 24 schools and colleges in Hertsmere, Watford and Three Rivers.

Since joining the Hertfordshire Careers Hub, Cluster 1 schools have made excellent progress against the Gatsby Benchmarks – the national framework used to assess the quality of a school’s careers education programme.

Get involved – volunteer as a Cornerstone Employer:

We invite businesses with existing school engagement programmes to join our Cornerstone Employer Group. You would work with the Careers Hub and your fellow Cornerstone Employers to help fill the gaps identified by our hub schools’ Gatsby Benchmark assessments. We particularly seek employers to support schools in the Hertsmere, Watford and Three Rivers cluster. Cornerstone Employers meet three to four times per year and collaborate to provide focused support for hub schools.

To enquire about becoming a Cornerstone Employer, please email Gareth Dace, Careers Hub Lead: gareth.dace@hertfordshirelep.co.uk.