Business Interchange is one of Lifelong Learning UK's ‘Catalyst' programmes, which aims to support the improvement of the UK's further education workforce. As the Sector Skills Council responsible for the lifelong learning sector, including further education, Lifelong Learning UK endeavours to strengthen investment in skills and training. Business Interchange promotes the use of structured vocational placements for tutors in order to help their professional development and build links with the local community, as well as local businesses. Recent government announcements about increased funding and opportunity for training serve to emphasise the key role the further education sector will play in rebuilding the workforce for a resurgent economy. Lifelong Learning UK believes that now, more than ever, the links between the sector and employers are crucial to plugging the UK's skills gaps and meeting the complex needs of the time. By making it easy for colleges and learning providers to engage with businesses in their local community through the use of work placements, Business Interchange seeks not only to bring better skilled professionals to employers, but also to bring better equipped tutors to their learners.
In the case of Samantha Cropley, the Business Interchange programme helped her, free of charge, to organise a week-long placement with Ragdale Hall, a leading local health spa. Whilst on the placement, Samantha was able to refresh her knowledge of working practices in the beauty therapy industry as well as contribute towards her own continuing professional development. A full two-day induction gave her perspective on the daily running of the spa, its ethos and policies, and it also provided an introduction to a leading product range and its application. By the end of her week's placement Samantha had renewed her rounding in both spa management practices and contemporary spa techniques. With many of her pupils aspiring to work at health and beauty retreats like Ragdale Hall, Samantha feels the placement has given her a valuable insight into exactly what she should teach her students to expect in the world of work.
Furthermore, she also believes the placement has significantly contributed towards her ability to deliver appropriately skilled people to businesses.
Following the success of the pilot programme, Lifelong Learning UK is rolling out the Business Interchange programme across the country, allowing even more further education sector workers to benefit, like Samantha, from time spent away from the classroom and in the world of work.
For more details on applying for the free assistance Business Interchange offers, please see the programme's website at www.businessinterchange.org
