Local Advisory Boards

The Local Advisory Board (LAB) acts as a partnership between the Career Academy and the local business community, providing support at both a strategic and practical level, to help the school or college reach its goals. Each Career Academy should have a LAB in place. The LAB should meet at least three times a year, with broadly the following objectives:

• To serve as Career Academy advocates, leveraging corporate and community connections to raise awareness of the Career Academy and build support.
• To agree the strategy of the Career Academy with each LAB member taking responsibility to meet the agreed objectives and drive the programme forward.
• To agree the curriculum ensuring it is relevant to the programme and to the current skills requirement in the workplace.
• To help develop Partner in Business (mentoring), Guru Lectures, workplace visits and other relevant enrichment experiences for Career Academy students and teachers.
• To assist in securing or sponsoring paid internships for Career Academy students.
• To assist in local programme budget development and fundraising strategy.
• To act as a catalyst for change in state education, in support of the school/college's institutional improvement plans.

LAB members should represent a demographic cross section from employers in the community. They should be well networked individuals who can use their corporate and community-wide access to act as an effective advocate and secure additional support for the Career Academy. The LAB should also include the relevant teaching staff, the Career Academy Coordinator and the Career Academies UK Regional Manager.

Independent  research conducted by Career Academies UK strongly suggests that without an effective LAB in place, the school or college is likely to struggle to deliver all aspects of the Career Academy programme to its students.

This is an exciting way for employers to engage with education and an excellent self development opportunity allowing you to improve networking, communication and interpersonal skills. If you'd like to get involved then please get in touch by emailing info@careeracademies.org.uk

"I think that the LAB is crucial to the success of a Career Academy. By anchoring the school or college in the local business community the LAB can provide first-hand business expertise and contacts to help the Career Academy develop the key PIB, Guru Lectures, visits and internships objectives of the programme. Over time this means the school or college can become less reliant on Career Academies UK for this support.

As a recently retired businessman it has been very rewarding - both professionally and personally - to work as Chair with my colleagues in achieving tangible results. As Chair I have also been able to develop a very close working partnership with the school's Career Academy Coordinator - another fundamental component of a successful Career Academy. All in all my two years as LAB Chair have been a highlight of my new working life."

David Zell, David Zell Associates Ltd

"On a personal level it has given me numerous opportunities to get involved in supporting students at the college I attended myself. As a result of my involvement with the Career Academy I am now Vice Chair of Governors and thus have an even greater opportunity to use my skills and experiences to benefit young people who are in the same situation that I was many years ago.

The LAB is made up of extremely skilled business people who are very committed to developing skills in young people and providing them with great work experiences. I wouldn't have missed it for the world."

Jacqui Clements, Chief Executive, Warwick University, Students' Union