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Skills 30:30 hailed a success in bringing business and education together online

 

Small businesses and students came together in the virtual world to take part in the popular Skills 30:30 initiative delivered by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in conjunction with schools.

This time, FSB joined up with the Harris Federation to bring 30 Year 13 students from the Harris Academy South Norwood (Croydon borough) together with 30 small business owners from across London to support the young people with their careers and futures with meaningful and insightful conversations in 90 minutes.

 

To launch this inaugural online Skills 30:30 event, all those taking part heard from a range of speakers including Manish Amin, Co Founder & CIO of Yatra.com who joined the event from Delhi, India, told us of his path to becoming a successful business owner and providing real hearted advice. Also, a down to earth talk by Daniel Thompson, shared his journey to becoming an apprentice from a very young age. He highlighted the importance of focus, goals and how his upskilling has played an important part in his current apprenticeship role with a well-known airline.

 

FSB London members also took to the online stage.  Zeenat Noorani, Resilience Wellbeing Coach delivered strategies for students to build resilient mindsets in the current lockdown environment for the job search ahead, whilst Sarah Marsh-Collings of ‘babelmonkey Digital Marketing & PR Management’ gave the students pointers on creating a LinkedIn profile that contains information employers really want to see.

Then the event moved to facilitated online breakout sessions covering Construction and Engineering, Entrepreneurs, Creative Industries, Digital Careers and Professionals.

Five small businesses and five students in each breakout session had the opportunity to come together to enable the young people to ask questions about different industries and job roles, and for the business to share their own stories and top tips.

 

Rob Hitch, Head of Harris Academy South Norwood said:  “High quality careers experiences help students see the opportunities available to them, and give them the knowledge they need to make considered and informed choices about their own career. The Skills 30:30 initiative is a great example of what schools and business can achieve when they work in close partnership. Harris Academy South Norwood students left feeling inspired about their next steps.”

 

Michael Lassman, FSB London Regional Chair said: “Small businesses are the heartbeat of our local communities. It is the joint effort and creativity of the people that run them and those that work in them, that will ensure continued economic growth in the Capital. FSB London supports the bringing together of small businesses and education to guarantee that young people leaving schools and colleges are skills-ready for work and that all round value for Londoners is maximised”.

 

Bhavini Kalaria, FSB London Policy Lead (Skills) said:  “Young people will go on to be the workforce of the near future.  Their skills and talents are necessary for businesses, who time and again identify a lack of skills as a key issue for them.  Skills 30:30 is designed to show young people that whatever path they take – they can have a successful career.  Students were able to hear directly from local businesses about their own journeys’ and also the skills they are looking for.  It was encouraging to see that there was plenty that businesses have to learn from students too – many of whom have key digital skills.

 

Chandra Sharma, FSB member and volunteer lead (Bromley) said:

“I was delighted to be a part of this first ‘Skills 30:30 online’ event having seen how well it was received, before lockdown, in Beckenham late last year. I was honoured to chair the event. Small businesses are the backbone of the economy and to be involved in helping inspire young people feels good and supports the future of the local community too. I would like to thank the Mayor of Bromley and former Small Business Champion, Cllr Hannah Gray for giving up her time during lockdown to attend the event”.