The point of partnership: the case for employer engagement in education

Abstract

Purpose

The Education and Employers Taskforce is a London‐based charity that was launched in October 2009 to help employers and educational organisations form effective relationships. The aim of this paper is to explore the benefits to employers and employees to be gained from engaging with schools on a voluntary basis.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper highlights research in four areas – staff development, staff engagement, recruitment, and corporate reputation – and concludes with a case study demonstrating how volunteering can be beneficial for business.

Findings

There are significant benefits for employers and employees across the four research areas from engaging with education and young people.

Originality/value

Owing to the positive impact on personnel performance, the paper suggests that education volunteering should sit within the HR function.

Citation

Mann, A. and Glover, C. (2011), "The point of partnership: the case for employer engagement in education", Strategic HR Review, Vol. 10 No. 1, pp. 21-27. https://doi.org/10.1108/14754391111091779