D2N2 LEP
Our national network connects schools and colleges with employers and careers programme providers and supports them to work together to provide young people with effective and high-quality encounters with the world of work.
How the network supports schools, colleges and employers
The network is made up of Enterprise Coordinators who we co-fund with Local Enterprise Partnerships and Combined Authorities. Enterprise Coordinators are trained professionals who work with clusters of 20 schools and colleges to build careers plans and make connections to local and national employers.
Enterprise Coordinators support a group of senior business volunteers, known as Enterprise Advisers, who they match with one of the school or colleges in the network.
Enterprise Advisers use their knowledge of the local business landscape to support the headteacher or careers team to develop an effective careers plan and to create opportunities with their business contacts in the area for their school or college’s students.
We work with businesses of all sizes to ensure they find the right future talent for their organisation and offer every young person the opportunity to explore their options and succeed in the world of work.
Encounters with employers bring the world of work to life for young people. Research shows that a young person who has 4 or more encounters with an employer is 86% less likely to be unemployed or not in education or training, and can earn up to 18% more during their career.
Join our network and your business can connect with schools and colleges to help prepare young people for the fast-changing world of work.
How to get involved
We’re already working with 2,000 secondary schools and colleges across England. But we need your help to grow and strengthen the network.
There are many ways your business can help. You can:
- offer young people encounters with the world of work, such as mentoring or work experience
- encourage your staff to volunteer for local outreach activities or work encounters
- take your school engagement programmes into more schools and colleges
- volunteer as an individual Enterprise Adviser and work with a local school or college to help develop their careers plan
However you want to help, we’ll support you with practical tools, evidence-based resources and guidance from a trained local Enterprise Coordinator.
Express your interest
Benefits for your business
- Help young people prepare for their future working lives
- Build strong relationships with schools and colleges
- Support the talent pool in your area
- Connect directly with local and national influencers, leading organisations, funding partners and careers programme providers
- Get expert support to take your own outreach programmes into more schools and colleges
- Rewarding benefits for your employees
Becoming a volunteer Enterprise Adviser can support staff to move from middle to senior management, developing their strategic and business planning skills
Taking part in inspirational work activities and programmes can support your junior staff to build presentation, communication and leadership skills
Participating builds understanding of the environment your future talent is coming from and the challenges they face