Why we must increase students’ awareness of careers with small businesses

Here at Amazing Apprenticeships, we know how hard careers professionals are working to broaden students’ understanding of the world of work. We see how much energy and effort you put into talking about apprenticeships, T Levels and other options and it is making a huge difference.

One area you’ve told us you’d like more support with is to help students to tap into one of the richest, most diverse parts of the labour market – small businesses.

We know that career opportunities with small businesses can be overlooked by young people and their families, maybe because they haven’t heard of the employer, or perhaps don’t know that there could be a variety of career opportunities, with significant potential for growth and progression. That’s why the Small Business Summer campaign from Amazing Apprenticeships, supported by Edge Foundation, is such an important moment for schools and colleges.

Small Business Summer equips schools and colleges with the tools to do just that. We have created a range of resources including short films showcasing different small businesses and their apprentices, classroom and assembly resources, display materials, a quiz, and much more. This is all explained in a helpful toolkit.

The campaign has been designed to be really flexible – schools and colleges can choose the approach and timing that works best for them, from simply displaying the posters and sharing the display screens through to using the full set of lesson activities and inviting in local employers to speak.

Small Business Summer helps us to challenge outdated assumptions and show students, along with their parents and carers, what small businesses can offer. It also supports your school or college to build stronger links with local employers – opening doors to work experience, meaningful employer encounters and apprenticeship pathways.

By championing Small Business Summer, we can help young people discover careers they may never have considered and ensure small employers get the talent they need to thrive.

To find out more about Small Business Summer, please register here.