Category: Skills and workforce

Runnymede businesses open doors to the workforce of tomorrow

Published 15 January 2025

Skills and workforce

During the month of December, a number of Runnymede-based businesses generously opened their doors and gave their time to groups of secondary school students as part of Runnymede Open Doors programme.

The Open Doors programme allows students to engage with local employers at their workplaces, offering insights into the types of roles available and the different entry paths into the business or industry sector. Open Doors visits provide young people with a valuable chance to explore potential career paths in different industries, learn about the skills employers are looking for, and enhance their own employability skills.

Runnymede Borough Council, Business Runnymede and Surrey Careers Hub worked in partnership to design and deliver the Runnymede Open Doors programme in 2024-2025, supported by the governmentโ€™s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The program kicked off in earnest in November with approximately 180 young people from six secondary schools taking part in 15 experiences at 7 business locations across Runnymede. More experiences are planned over January and February 2025.  

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth said: โ€œWe are delighted to be able to run Open Doors in Runnymede to enable young people to gain first-hand experience of differing workplaces and have genuine conversations with local employers.

โ€œProgrammes of this type, investing in the workforce of tomorrow, are vital in ensuring the long-term success of our regional economy, and we appreciate the time and energy the participating businesses have invested into the success of the scheme.โ€

A total of 10 Runnymede businesses have signed up for the scheme, offering to give their time and support to the programme by hosting students at their premises. Each business devised their own unique itinerary to help the students experience a little of what it would be like to work there and hear more about the career pathways available.  At Avery Healthcare the students met several of the homeโ€™s residents, toured the premises and watched an exciting match of Balloon Tennis. They also had the opportunity to ask staff and residents for their own views.

Groups of students who visited Kick-X were first able to let off a bit of steam and understand the customer experience by trying out the various hybrid football facilities at the venue. They then took part in an interactive workshop where they brainstormed solutions to real-life challenges and opportunities faced by the business โ€“ offering some unique perspectives the business may otherwise not have heard.

The experience was a great success, as this teacher remarked, โ€œWe all absolutely enjoyed todayโ€™s visit to Kick X. Max has been fantastic. The session was very well planned, delivered. Max was enthusiastic, well-spoken and captured the studentโ€™s attention. He talked about the business, jobs, skills and values in a very exciting way and the students have got a lot from the session. They not only enjoyed the practical part but also the theory where they were taking part in some business ideas, offering advice and creativity. All our learning objectives were met thanks to Max. We are very grateful for this valuable opportunity.โ€

The young people visiting Thorpe Park were tested on their knowledge of the theme parkโ€™s history and heard the career stories of several key members of staff before undertaking an eye-opening behind-the-scenes tour of the park. 

Almost every student who completed an evaluation form responded that the visit had helped them to understand more about the jobs and careers available with that employer, and 100% said theyโ€™d like to attend more employer visits in the future.

The program will run until the end of March 2025 with planning underway for Open Day experiences for college students in the borough still to take place.   

Participating schools and businesses:

Businesses

  • Thorpe Park
  • Avery Healthcare
  • Kick-X Football Arena
  • Geek Retreat
  • Stanhope-Seta
  • Snap Fitness
  • Achieve Lifestyle
  • Egham Orbit
  • Chop & Change Hair Salon
  • Page Personnel

Schools

  • Chertsey High School
  • Phillip Southcote School
  • Magna Carta School
  • Walton-Leigh School
  • Jubilee High School
  • Fullbrook School

Play your part

There are lots of ways Surrey businesses can support Surreyโ€™s future workforce.

  • Want to support the work of the Surrey Careers Hub? Weโ€™re looking for professionals from all sectors and business of all sizes to work with Careers Leaders and Education Leaders asย Enterprise Advisersย to shape their careers education strategies. Get in touch viaย our contact us formย for further details.
  • Sign up to theย Business Surrey newsletterย for updates around workforce development.
a group of students walks through Thorpe Park - visiting as part of Runnymede Open Doors programme

Inspire Surrey’s future workforce in 2025 as an Enterprise Adviser

Published 6 January 2025

Skills and workforce

Put your business experience to great use in 2025 by helping shape the futures of young people as an Enterprise Adviser.

Surrey Careers Hub is looking for professionals to use their skills and knowledge to work strategically with schools and colleges.

Enterprise Advisers use their experience and networks to help teachers bridge the gap between formal learning and the world of work.

Full training is provided. All you need is a commitment to working with teachers for a couple of hours a month to input into careers programmes.

Youโ€™ll be joining a network of more than 4,000 people across the UK. And youโ€™ll be helping hundreds of young people be inspired about their futures.

Lisa Jarvis, is an active Enterprise Adviser with Surrey Careers Hub alongside her role at Novo Nordisk. She explains: โ€œAs business professionals, we often forget the valuable skills and networks that we have. These could be so beneficial to schools, helping them focus on what they are great at – which is educating our young people.โ€

What is an Enterprise Adviser?

Enterprise Advisers are fundamental to the Surrey Careers Hub.

They play an important role in shaping the positive future of young people across the county.

They’re business professionals dedicated to making a lasting impact on the future outcomes of young people.

Volunteers use their skills, business experience, and networks to support local schools and colleges.

They provide invaluable employer perspectives. And they put opportunities with local businesses at the heart of a young person’s education.

Anyone can register their interest in the role, regardless where they live or work.

What’s in it for you?

There’s more to becoming an Enterprise Adviser than just giving back to the community. You’ll also:

  • Develop and grow your experience in strategic planning
  • Understand how to communicate and connect with young people
  • Access support from a national and local network of like-minded people
  • Gain a deeper understanding of the education sector and its challenges

Get more information and register your interest visit the Enterprise Advisers page on the Surrey County Council website.

Looking for further opportunities to work with Surrey Careers Hub? Get in touch via our contact us form.

Three people stand smiling at the camera. They are standing in front of a promotional banner for Surrey Careers Hub

Department for Education gets muddy with Multiply

Published 19 December 2024

Skills and workforce

On a slightly damp December day, the Department for Education (DfE) joined the Surrey County Council (SCC) Multiply team at a local community garden. The aim was to see Multiply ‘in action’ and hear about its impact directly from the learners.

Multiply is a range of free, flexible courses (funded by government) developed to help adults improve their number skills and build their number confidence. Surrey’s Multiply providers have taken a creative and flexible approach in delivering courses that adapt to meet learners’ needs and the DfE were keen to see this in action.

Creative delivery, flexing to meet learners’ needs

The visit took place at Surrey Care Trust’s Gateway Community Garden in Reigate. Course leaders here are embedding maths skills into various garden projects. This means that students learn and apply maths and numeracy skills while they calculate lengths, areas, volumes etc, to build raised beds, create ponds and grow small crops.

This was the second time the SCC Multiply team has visited the project at the Gateway garden. The first visit took place in early spring 2024 and was captured on video (watch it below). This time the team were delighted to see how much progress had been made, both in terms of the garden projects and the learners’ individual achievements.

One participant, Nick, who has been attending for several months, noted: “It’s helped me a lot with everyday life, also with job seeking, numeracy skills, maths skills, soft skills like working in teams with people. It’s generally everything you’d need to get into a job nowadays.”

Multiply is available free of charge to both residents and businesses in Surrey, until the end of March 2025. Thereโ€™s a huge range of Multiply courses available, with something to suit everyone. Businesses can also benefit from bespoke programs designed to suit the needs of their workforce.

Find out more

You can see the full list of available courses on the Multiply website.

If youโ€™d like to find out more about arranging bespoke courses for your organisation, email multiply.info@surreycc.gov.uk.

Multiply providers’ network meeting reviews achievements of scheme ahead of final quarter

Published 13 December 2024

Skills and workforce

The latest Multiply Providers Network workshop took place in early December at Surrey County Council’s Woodhatch offices, to review the program’s progress so far, and look ahead to the final Quarter.

The workshop was hosted by Surrey Adult Learning Principal, Francis Lawlor, and attended by representatives from the 15 Surrey Multiply training partners. Additionally, three members of the Department for Education (DfE) Multiply team attended; David Saffery, Josephine Howarth and Charlotte Piper.

The workshop was an opportunity for Multiply providers to review and share success stories and best practice, and learn from other organisation’s creative and flexible approaches to meeting learner needs.

The DfE attended to hear first-hand from providers and learn more about the positive impact and outcomes for learners across the county.

Creative approaches by providers

Surrey Multiply providers had previously come together for the first time at a network meeting in September where they were able to begin to build working relationships. At the December meeting providers shared and discussed the results of those professional partnerships. Many providers have been able to refer learners between themselves, and to join together to deliver some Multiply projects.

The meeting’s attendees all agreed to meet again before the program ends in March 2026, to discuss ways to preserve and amplify the Multiply legacy. Eveyone agreed this was vitally important in order to ensure the program’s impact has long-lasting positive effects amongst those Surrey communities most in need of numeracy support.

For more information about the Multiply program

Up to 1 in 7 adults in Surrey do not have a GCSE equivalent in maths. The government-funded Multiply programme aims to change that, by offering free flexible numeracy courses packed with practical tips.

The list of available courses can be found on the Surrey County Council website: www.surreycc.gov.uk/multiply.

Support for Surrey businesses

Our team of experts can provide tailored advice to help your business grow and succeed. Get in touch to find out more via our business support form.

You can also register to receive our newsletter, packed with the latest information on events, funding and more, for all Surrey businesses.

Business blog: Fund an apprentice in just a few clicks via the apprenticeship levy

Published 10 December 2024

Skills and workforce, Thought leadership

In the latest Business Surrey blog, Renรฉe Canter, Business Surreyโ€™s Gateway & Monitoring Officer, explains why utilising the apprenticeship levy could help you recruit and grow your business.

Whatโ€™s stopping your business from taking on an apprentice?

Cost is quite a common concern, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 50 employees.

Time is another, with many smaller businesses worried about the paperwork involved.

But what if someone else fills in the forms and foots the training bill for you?

Well, thatโ€™s exactly what the apprenticeship levy transfer scheme from Surrey County Council offers – with funding to train dozens of apprentices currently available.

This makes it an ideal way for Surrey SMEs to recruit while providing opportunities to local residents.

All about apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are all about opportunity.

They allow people of all ages to earn while they learn and gain the skills they need to build a rewarding career.

Latest figures from the House of Commons Library show that more than 750,000 people took part in apprenticeships in 2022/23 financial year.

Of these, more than 5,200 were in Surrey with courses offered in a wide range of industries, from health to business to engineering and beyond.

But for many SMEs, taking on an apprentice is not something they consider due to concerns about the cost of training and levels of red tape and paperwork.

The introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in 2017 helps significantly reduce costs and makes apprenticeships even more accessible for SMEs.  

It means employers with a pay bill of over ยฃ3 million per year pay 0.5% of their salary bill towards supporting apprenticeships.

Large organisations can support SME’s who may not pay into the levy by transferring funds to them to use to fund apprenticeships in their own business.

This Apprenticeship Levy helped directly support almost 50% of all apprenticeships in 2017/18. But many businesses are still not fully leveraging this opportunity.

Five ways apprentices can support your Surrey business

1.ย Address Skills Gaps

One of the most pressing challenges businesses face today is the skills gap. As industries evolve, the demand for new skills grows, and traditional education systems often struggle to keep pace.

Apprenticeships offer a practical solution by providing tailored training that meets the specific needs of your business. 

By utilising the apprenticeship levy, companies can develop a pipeline of skilled workers who are trained to their exact specifications.

2.ย Enhancing Employee Retention

Investing in apprenticeships can significantly improve employee retention rates.

Apprenticeships provide employees with clear career progression paths and the opportunity to gain recognized qualifications while earning a salary. 

This not only boosts morale but also reduces turnover, saving businesses the costs associated with recruiting and training new staff.

3.ย Boosting Productivity

Apprenticeships are not just about training; they are about enhancing productivity.

Apprentices bring fresh perspectives and new ideas to the workplace. They are often more motivated and eager to learn, which can lead to increased innovation and efficiency. 

According to the UK government, businesses with established apprenticeship programs report a significant improvement in productivity.

4.ย Cost-Effective Training Solutions

For many businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the cost of training can be a significant barrier.

The apprenticeship levy provides a cost-effective solution. Surrey County Council’s levy transfer facility can cover the full cost of the apprenticeship, which can vary from ยฃ5,000 to ยฃ40,000.

All local businesses need to do initially is fill in the application form and commit to paying the apprentice an ongoing salary. There also needs to be an ongoing commitment to support the apprentice during employment.

This makes apprenticeships an affordable option for businesses of all sizes, enabling them to invest in their workforce without breaking the bank.

5.ย Supporting Diversity and Inclusion

Apprenticeships can play a crucial role in promoting diversity and inclusion within the workplace. They’re useful in attracting a wider range of candidates, including those from underrepresented groups.

This can drive innovation and creativity, while helping businesses build a workforce that reflects the diversity of their customer base and society at large.

How to apply to the Apprenticeship Levy Transfer scheme

Surrey County Council is committed to ensuring No One is Left Behind. This is why it’s made it as easy as possible for businesses to access its Apprenticeship Levy Transfer scheme.

It is open to all businesses in Surrey and can only be used for future apprenticeships, either for new roles or existing employees. Itโ€™s open all year round but funding is allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Business interested in exploring the opportunity can get in touch with the Business Surrey team via our business support form.

You could also apply direct using the application form. A member of the Councilโ€™s careers team will then review your application and be in touch to support in setting-up the levy transfer.

Full terms and conditions are available on the Surrey County Council website.

Woking FC joins the Multiply team to boost adult numeracy in Surreyย ย 

Published 6 December 2024

Skills and workforce

Woking FC has teamed up with Surrey County Council to encourage its supporters to sign up to Multiply adult numeracy courses so they don’t get caught offside when figuring things out.ย 

Up to 1 in 7 adults in Surrey do not have a GCSE equivalent in maths and the government-funded Multiply programme aims to change that by offering free flexible numeracy courses packed with practical tips.

Woking FCโ€™s strong links to both the local and wider community meant it was an obvious choice for partnership with the council to promote the Multiply program to the communities who could most benefit. 

Clare Curran, Surrey County Councilโ€™s Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Lifelong learning, said:  โ€œWe are delighted that Woking FC is supporting the Multiply campaign by promoting it to their supporters and the wider community.  

“Around half of the UK working age population donโ€™t have strong numeracy skills, or donโ€™t feel confident about using numbers. Multiply has been created to help bridge that numeracy skills gap to help Surrey adults reach their full potential and ensure no one is left behind.

Simon Jones, Business Development Director for Woking FC said: โ€œWoking FC have always been keen promoters of lifelong learning amongst our own staff and teams, so we are delighted to be able to add our support for the Multiply program.”The Multiply program is a fantastic opportunity for people to improve their maths skills and confidence and weโ€™d encourage all our supporters and visitors to check out the range of free courses on offer.โ€

There is a wide range of both online and in-person courses available through Multiply. Many have been created to fill the needs of specific industries, such as construction, healthcare and early years, while others are designed to cater to personal interests such as gardening and cooking.  

Courses are running now and continue until the end of March 2025. To qualify, learners must be based in Surrey, aged 19 or over, and without a GCSE (or equivalent) in Maths. 

Multiply for businesses

Multiply is also free for businesses who wish to upskill their workforce. Surrey County Council can support your business by sourcing the most suitable Multiply training provider to deliver a bespoke Multiply course created specifically to solve your own workforce’s numeracy needs. Email multiply.info@surreycc.gov.uk for more information on free Multiply adult numeracy training for businesses, or check out the list of courses here: www.surreycc.gov.uk/multiply.

Other support for Surrey businesses

Our team of experts can provide tailored advice to help your business grow and succeed. Get in touch to find out more via our business support form.

You can also register to receive our newsletter, packed with the latest information on events, funding and more, for all Surrey businesses.

Woking fc supports Multiply - a photo of 3 members of the team standing behind a Multiply advertising banner at the stadium

First ever Surrey Careers Hub Conference brings employers and educators closer together

Published 19 November 2024

Skills and workforce

Bridging the gap between education and employment to boost opportunities for all was the focus of the first ever Surrey Careers Hub conference.

Up to 70 representatives from employers, schools, colleges and training providers attended the event last week at Nescot College in Epsom.

The aim was to celebrate the successes achieved in the first year of the Surrey Careers Hub and explore ways to raise awareness of all the opportunities available to young people in secondary education so they can take their next best step.

By doing so, this will help young people into fulfilling employment while supporting growth in the regional economy.

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Councilโ€™s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, opened the event. He said: โ€œProviding clear pathways for our young people to gain the skills and information they need for their future careers is vital. Through Surrey Careers Hub, we have the framework in place to offer world class careers provision across the whole of Surrey. 

โ€œWe have a strong and diverse economy with internationally recognised sectors and outstanding education settings – and it is up to all of us to bring those two things closer together.

โ€œI look forward to seeing our employers and educators continuing to work together to provide opportunities for all our young people, regardless of their background. In time this will deliver benefits to them as individuals, to our businesses and the wider economy.โ€

A year of Surrey Careers Hub

Surrey Careers Hub was launched in September 2023 by Surrey County Council with funding from The Careers & Enterprise Company.

During the first 12 months, the Surrey Careers Hub team has:

  • Engaged 95 maintained schools, colleges, special schools, alternative provisions and Pupil Referral Units;
  • Recruited more than 90 volunteers from the business community to support the delivery of careers related activities for students;
  • Provided opportunities for teachers and students to learn more about careers in Surreyโ€™s growth sectors, such as gaming, cyber security, creative industries and construction and infrastructure;
  • Supported the progression of schools and colleges across all eight Gatsby Benchmarks; the government recognised framework of good careers education.

Georgina Angele, Strategic Hub Lead at Surrey Careers Hub, said: โ€œBridging the skills gap is one of the most pressing issues facing the UK economy, even in a region as large and diverse as Surrey.

โ€œThis gap not only hampers business growth but also hampers wider economic development – which is why the work weโ€™re doing is so important.

โ€œOur ambition is to ensure Surrey has an engaged, informed and skilled future workforce to meet the demands of the modern economy โ€“ but we can only do that with the support and input from employers, educators and our young people.โ€

Highlights of the first-ever Surrey Careers Hub conference

The conference saw a variety of speakers talk about a range of issues relevant to the work of the Surrey Careers Hub.

This included businesses, such as Guildford-based IT support services firm ramsac, which recently hosted two groups of teachers to learn more about their work as part of the Teachers Encounters programme. These are workplace experiences for teachers, helping to connect their subject teaching and learning to the world of work.

Delegates also heard from representatives of The Careers & Enterprise Company, a Headteacher, young people and industry stakeholders.

Julie Kapsalis, Principal of Nescot College, who is also a member of the Surrey Careers Hub Cornerstone Employers Group, said: โ€œI am so passionate about the work weโ€™re doing collaboratively around careers, for us as a business but primarily for students. This allows us to respond far better to the wider economic needs of businesses.

โ€œItโ€™s that commitment to raise the quality of careers education, to tackle disadvantage and barriers to success, which is why I am so proud to be involved with the Surrey Careers Hub.โ€

For more details visit the Surrey Careers Hub website.

Play your part

There are lots of ways Surrey businesses can support Surrey’s future workforce.

  • Want to support the work of the Surrey Careers Hub? Weโ€™re looking for professionals from all sectors and business of all sizes to work with Careers Leaders and Education Leaders as Enterprise Advisers to shape their careers education strategies. Get in touch via our contact us form for further details.
  • Sign up to the Business Surrey newsletter for updates around workforce development
A group of people stand posing for a picture while standing in front of a Surrey Careers Hub promotional banner.
A man in a blue jacket and white shirt stands on stage presenting to an audience. He stands in front of a Surrey Careers Hub banner.
A woman in a black top is at a networking event talking to a group of people. She has a Surrey Careers Hub lanyard around her neck.
Two women - one in a purple blouse, the other in a black and white dress - stand on stage presenting. In the background is a Surrey Careers Hub promotional banner.
A man in shirt and tie is sat in a auditorium with red seats. He is turned to the audience and smiling.
A cake with white and green icing is sat on a plate waiting to be served. It is decorated in Surrey Careers Hub brand colours.

FORT programme to train future AI and cyber leaders in Surrey

Published 6 November 2024

Innovation, Skills and workforce

Surrey’s reputation as a leader in cyber security and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been reinforced with the launch of the new multi-million pound FORT programme.

The ยฃ8 million Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Open Secure Networks (FORT) was launched at the University of Surrey’s 5G/6G Innovation Centre last month.

Running in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast, it will support at least 50 PhD researchers to develop their skills and industry-ready innovations over the next eight years.

They will work with industry partners including Rolls Royce, AWS, HP, Virgin Media, BT and Keysight Technologies.

Academic researchers claim these highly specialised skills are crucial for ensuring private and secure communications in the future.

It will underline the university and wider region’s credentials as an innovation powerhouse which nurtures advanced skills in wireless communications, AI, and cyber security.

What is the FORT programme?

The FORT centre for doctoral training is a community of postgraduate researchers who will become industry-conscious thinkers and leaders.

It is supported by ยฃ8 million in government funding, through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The launch event highlighted the importance of training postgraduate researchers in the fast-evolving fields of wireless communications, AI, cybersecurity, and networking.

It featured demonstrations, discussions and networking sessions. It gave attendees with insights into the future of telecommunications, AI, and cybersecurity.

Industry partners also shared their vision for the collaboration. They also stressed the significance of academic-industry partnerships in addressing the real-world challenges faced by the telecommunications sector.

Professor Rahim Tafazolli, Head of the Institute for Communication Systems (ICS), said: The collaboration between academia and industry is pivotal in positioning the UK as a leader in secure and resilient communications networks.

The launch of FORT is just the beginning of a bold journey towards shaping the future of telecommunications.

“The backing of the EPSRC has been essential in establishing this partnership between Surrey, Queen’s and our 21 valued industry partners. Together we have the potential to deliver a transformational shift in the UK’s position at the heart of innovation for future global telecommunications infrastructure.”

Innovation and Surrey

Surrey is leading the way in several key sectors crucial to the UKโ€™s future economy. And Business Surrey is focused on supporting these sectors to grow and reach their potential.

We’re nurturing and bringing together companies in these key sectors as part of our clusters work.

We are also working with researchers and funding establishments to bring in investment and build infrastructure.

Plus we work with training providers to ensure the countyโ€™s future workforce has the necessary skills for these sectors to prosper for years to come.

Do you work in a cyber or artificial intelligence and looking for support to grow? Get in touch with our experts via our business support form.

The exterior of a large commercial building covered in brown cladding with a large canopy. On the outside of the building is a large University of Surrey logo.

KFC UK: a Surrey Success Story

Published 29 October 2024

Skills and workforce, Surrey Success Stories

KFC UK is the latest of our Surrey Success Stories, a collection of video case studies of businesses โ€“ large and small โ€“ that are putting our region on the map. Click on the video below to discover why Surrey is a great place for this international brand to have its UK base .

KFC UK: an iconic brand with an iconic founder

It’s an iconic global brand with a founder as famous as its food. But how many of you knew that Colonel Sanders’ fried chicken legacy is rooted in Surrey as well as Kentucky?

It’s nearly a century since the white suited Sanders first started serving his fried chicken in a roadside motel in the United States. The taste is now exported round the world, including the UK.

Kentucky Fried Chicken – known better as KFC – opened its first UK restaurant in Preston, Lancashire in the 1960s.

And the UK operation has never looked back. Currently there are more than 1,000 branches in the UK. And its parent company KFC UK has an annual turnover of close to ยฃ300 million.

This major operation is all coordinated from a UK headquarters in the heart of the Surrey town of Woking.

KFC’s secret to success

So how has a company founded in the southern US state of Kentucky come to be so popular?

Well, the food is pretty good – with the unique blend of 11 herbs and spices still very much a top level secret.

The company is also committed to being bold and innovative.

Jo Tivers, Head of Food and Quality, said: “I love working in the fast food industry. As the name suggests, it’s really, really fast. We can be really innovative, we can try new things. We have a customer base that is really interested in trying new things.”

The company is also big on investing in its people – with culture being a real focus. It claims to be “people first culture, really heart-led” – with a real focus on supporting and championing young people, especially with their first jobs.

As Hema Ladwa, People Experience Lead, explains: “We really believe that everyone has the potential, we just need to feed that potential, whether it’s feeding them chicken or whether it’s feeding them through their knowledge and through their learning and development.”

This commitment inspires loyalty and nurtures talent, for now and into the future.

KFC UK and Surrey

KFC UK has had its restaurant support centre in Woking for more than 25 years. About 350 people are based there, with location being a major plus point – for business and for pleasure.

With direct train links to London taking 30 minutes and the M25 and two major airports a short drive away, connectivity couldn’t be better.

Jenny Packwood, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, said: “Not only do we have great proximity to London, the trains are really quick in and out to London for people who live there. And because we’re international, the proximity to Heathrow and Gatwick is also really helpful.”

Woking is also a fantastic place for people to be live, continually being ranked among the best places in the UK to reside.

There’s culture, countryside, shopping, great food and drink plus access to a range of recreational facilities.

Jo Tivers, Head of Food and Quality, said: “It’s great to be able to go into the weekend, enjoy lunch out with the family, take them to the theatre, to the cinema. There’s always something incredible to do.”

Looking to relocate your business to Surrey?

Thanks to our desirable location, reputation for innovation and collaborative business ecosystem, Surrey is a top business location of choice.

As part of Business Surrey, Surrey County Council offers the Invest in Surrey service.

Our specialised team offers free and confidential services. We assist companies looking to invest and grow in Surrey.

Whether youโ€™re a start-up, SME or international company, you can benefit from specialist expertise, local knowledge and business support.

Get in touch with the team today via our business support form.

A red and white bucket with the words KFC on it is on a table. In the background is a picture of Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC.
Image of fried chicken on a wire tray. A person in a black apron is using tongs to lift the chicken into a KFC bucket.
Two people - a man in a black jacket and a woman in a short sleeved grey top - sit at a table talking to each other. In the background is the words "Finger Lickin Good" in neon lighting, which is the slogan for KFC UK.

Business Blog: Why young people are crucial to growing our future economy

Published 23 October 2024

Skills and workforce, Thought leadership

Georgina Angele, Strategic Hub Lead for Surrey Careers Hub, has almost two decades of experience working to connect schools and colleges with employers. In our latest business blog, she explains how Surrey businesses can play their part in equipping young people with future skills โ€“ and why it will benefit them and the wider economy down the line.

In todayโ€™s rapidly evolving job market, the importance of equipping young people with relevant employment skills whilst still in school or college cannot be overstated.  

As we navigate the 21st century, the landscape of work is being reshaped by continual changes in technology, national policy and globalisation. 

To support future economic growth and help young people achieve their potential, it is imperative we prepare them with the skills they will need to thrive. 

As Strategic Hub Lead for the Surrey Careers Hub, itโ€™s my role to directly work with employers and education providers to unlock opportunities โ€“ bringing them closer together, so that we can ensure young people have a range of meaningful careers experiences while they are still in school and college.ย ย Read on to find out more, or if you’re ready to involved sign up now to become a strategic Enterprise Advisor working with a local school.

Bridging the Skills Gap 

One of the most pressing challenges facing economies across the UK is the skills gap, even in an economy as diverse and large as Surrey. 

Employers across a range of sectors often report difficulties in finding candidates coming out of education with the skills required for the positions available.   

This gap not only hampers business growth but also limits economic development. 

This is why the creation of the Surrey Careers Hub just over a year ago has been so important to our regional economy. 

We work with more than 97% of secondary schools, colleges, special schools and alternative provisions, connecting them to employers in all sectors. 

The aim is to ensure young people have an awareness of the opportunities available to them while making sure education providers know which skills their young people need to succeed once they finish their education. 

The Surrey Careers Hub ensures there is a single approach for the whole county. And we can tailor this work to the key sectors which are crucial to our future economy, such as Artificial Intelligence, gaming, creative industries and infrastructure. 

By integrating careers provision into the education system, we can bridge the skills gap and create an engaged workforce that is ready to meet the demands of the modern economy. 

Enhancing Employability 

Equipping students with relevant skills enhances their employability, giving them a competitive edge in the job market.  

Skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, oracy (the ability to express yourself fluently and coherently), adaptability, resilience, and digital literacy are increasingly valued by employers.  

By fostering these skills early on, we can ensure that young people are not only prepared for their first job, but also have the adaptability to navigate multiple career changes throughout their lives. 

Seeing how these skills can be applied to the โ€˜real wordโ€™ is also crucial. 

One way we do this is by supporting schools and colleges to provide regular engagement points for their students with employers. 

These can range from mock interviews and workplace experiences to big events, such as the recent Surrey Festival of Skills.  

We also look to level the field for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, as part of our wider No One Left Behind mission. So, we target our funding and interventions to support those young people who face multiple barriers to engaging in education, have additional needs and disabilities and experience socio-economic disadvantage.  

By creating opportunities for all, weโ€™re providing young people with the awareness and confidence to explore the range of opportunities that employers in Surrey can offer. 

Aligning Education with Industry Needs 

To effectively equip young people with relevant employment skills, it is essential to align the things taught in the classroom with industry needs.  

This requires collaboration between educational institutions, businesses, and policymakers at both a national and regional level. 

While we work strategically across Surrey, our work is guided and majority funded by The Careers & Enterprise Company, a national body funded by the Department for Education. 

It oversees the provision of quality careers education in schools and colleges across the UK. It ensures all activities are aligned to the Gatsby Benchmarks. And has resources so that young people receive the guidance and support they need to make informed career choices. 

One way we are doing this is by reinventing work experience, acknowledging that a shift to hybrid working makes intensive weekly or fortnightly programmes during the summer no longer feasible for many employers. 

Instead, we are encouraging a shift for students to gain regular experiences of the workplace throughout their time in secondary education. This will include short, targeted workplace visits; one-day project-based experiences; and longer structured placements.   

We are also working directly with employers to help them assess, monitor and improve their educational outreach, achieve social value commitments, create a diverse workforce, and recruit local talent into their business.  

Promoting Lifelong Learning 

Promoting opportunity does not stop as soon as people enter the workplace. 

The concept of lifelong learning is becoming increasingly important in todayโ€™s world of accelerated change.  

By instilling a love for learning and a commitment to continuous skills development, we can ensure that young people remain adaptable and resilient in the face of change.  

This mindset not only benefits their personal and professional growth, but also contributes to the overall economic health of the nation. 

One way weโ€™re doing that as a team is by running a programme of Teacher Encounters.ย ย 

This takes subject teachers out of their classrooms and into the workplace. We piloted it last year with the gaming and cybersecurity sectors in Surrey (see our LinkedIn post here). 

They learned how their subjects connect to the world of work and which skills employers need in their future workforce.  

We are scaling Teacher Encounters this academic year to include a wider range of industries โ€“ including construction, highways, creative & cultural industries, engineering and the NHS. If you want to get involved, then please contact us. 

There are also many opportunities out there right now for employers to invest in their workforce. 

One such as example is the Multiply scheme, which is free for those who do not have a GCSE in maths. 

These fun, flexible sessions are available both in person and online. And by encouraging your colleagues to take part you could help improve your business performance in the long run. 

Find out more on the Multiply page of the Surrey County Council website. 

How You Can Help 

These are just some ways we are focused on equipping our young people with the skills to support future business growth. But we cannot do it alone.  

The role of employers across the region is crucial to planning how we do this, and also in the delivery. 

There are several ways you can support this work.  

Weโ€™re currently looking for people with business experience to volunteer as Enterprise Advisers. This is a strategic role, working with Careers Leaders in schools to help them develop impactful careers programmes.  

Itโ€™s a hugely rewarding role. You will have direct influence on the direction of the careers programme in the school youโ€™re matched to. And you’ll help improve the prospects of the young people who attend that school.

If you want to know more, then please get in touch via our contact form. 

To see a full list of opportunities with the Surrey Careers Hub, visit the Surrey Careers Hub web page. 

A woman in a black and white dress stands behind a lectern addressing a group of people in a conference room. Behind her are promotional materials for the Surrey Careers Hub.