Make a difference, give back to your community and raise awareness of your business or industry
Give an Hour is a national initiative! A great way to make a difference, give back to your community and raise awareness of your business or industry supporting your Corporate Social Responsibility along with wider personal and professional benefits.
You can’t be what you can’t see. For some young people in our region who are preparing to make the next step into employment, the transition is daunting. Through our brilliant and growing network, we are making high quality careers information a reality, working in partnership to support young people to make confident, informed choices.
Our volunteer programmes have space for business professionals from Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire.
Use the table below to find volunteering opportunities near you.
| Event Date | Event Time | Year Groups | Name | Post Code | Event Type | Aim | What you need volunteers to do |
| Any day | 9:05 – 15:15 | 10 to 13 | Manor School | NN9 6PA | Class careers talks – 1hour | Depending on your capacity to provide students with an insight into your career journey, day to day activity in role, sector or routes, qualifications, training, skills required. To provide insight into recruitment practices, salaries, best/worst aspects. | Flexible with focus of the sessions for groups of max 25 students. Interesting and engaging talks or presentations and any hands on tasks/activity or props/accessories for students to see/try. |
| 05/12/23 | 9.30 -1.45 | 11 | Abbeyfield School | NN4 8BU Northamptonshire | Year 11 Mock Interview Day | 1 to 1 mock interviews for students who are seeking to gain experience in talking to external organisations and preparing to interview for jobs when they leave school. | Volunteers will be given an example of 10 generic interview questions for students, or they can bring in their own. We make it quite informal so that we get the most out of the students, and it often turns into a chat about your own career and the path you took. |
| 07/12/23 | 9:00 – 15:00 | 11 | Weston Favell Academy | NN3 3EZ Northamptonshire | Mock Interviews | To provide 1:1 mock interview experience for Year 11 students. | School will provide questions to each employer. Volunteers will be required to ask questions and provide feedback to learners. |
| 18/01/24 | 9.00 – 11.00 | 12 | Rushden Academy | NN10 6AG Northamptonshire | Speed Dating Careers Event | Speed dating format, representatives from companies / services will be seated at a table and groups of students will move from table-to-table every few minutes to chat with the representatives about their careers, how they got to where they are, the industry they work in etc. The aim is to help students understand that there is a huge range of careers (and opportunities) they might not have thought of in the local area, particularly in terms of higher and degree apprenticeships as well as graduate level. | Host a stand, bring any marketing, promotional material you want and be prepared to answer lots of questions! |
| 24/01/24 | 09:00 – 15:00 | 7 | Latimer Arts College | NN15 6SW Northamptonshire | Dragons Den | Volunteers to support students over the day with developing their product from conception to presentation to participate in the Dragons Den activity day. | To support students over the day and act as Dragons Den judges offering feedback on student product presentations. |
| 29/01/24 | 12:30 – 15:15 | 9 | Guilsborough Academy | NN6 8QE Northamptonshire | Bring a maths lesson to real life | Deliver a maths lesson to year 9 that’ll show them how maths is important and can be applied to a whole range of different careers. | Give an overview of your career history too, and our head of maths will support with developing appropriate content for the lesson depending on your role/industry. |
| 05/02/23 to 09/02/24 | 11:30 – 12:00 | 7 to 11 | Latimer Arts College | NN15 6SW Northamptonshire | Apprentice Assembly | To inform and inspire students into apprenticeships routes, insight into your role/sector/business and experiences. With tips and advice for students. | Current or past apprentices to volunteer to deliver a 15minute assembly about their career journey to date. |
| 16/02/24 | 9:00 – 15:45 | 7 – 13 | Kettering Buccleuch Academy | NN16 9NS Northamptonshire | Careers Fair – information stall | For students to have encounters with local and national employers, and training providers | Have a stall with information and talk to students about your company/job/industry that approach their table. |
| 27/02/24 | 9:30 – 13:35 | 9 | Manor School | NN9 6PA Northamptonshire | Small group 1hour sessions to students with Q&A | To provide students with an insight into your career journey, roles, sector, industry, routes into different roles. To provide greater understanding of future careers and support students in making subject choices for their GCSE options. | Repeat the 1 hour session 3 times over the morning to groups of max 25 students. Interesting and engaging presentations and any hands on tasks/activity or props/accessories for students to see/try. |
| 29/02/24 | 8:45 – 9:55 | 7 | Weavers Academy | NN8 3JH Northamptonshire | What is an entrepreneur – 50min talk in assembly | Inform students on what an entrepreneur is and share your career journey to date. To help prepare students to then complete an entrepreneurial challenge. | Share experiences in an assembly setting, inform students of your business or past businesses, why and how came about starting own business including any challenges overcome. |
| 04/03/23 to 08/03/24 | 11:45 | 7 – 11 | Latimer Arts College | NN15 6SW Northamptonshire | Careers Assemblies | To inform and inspire students into future careers routes, qualifications or pathways, insight into your role/sector/business and experiences. With tips and advice for students. | Volunteer to deliver a 15minute assembly about their career journey to date and insight on the sector(s) you have worked within. |
| 06/03/24 | 9:00 -15:00 | 7 – 13 | Elizabeth Woodville school | NN7 2LP Northamptonshire | Career Fair – information stall | The aim of the Careers Fair is that students are given an opportunity to find out about different careers and what GCSE and skills would help to support this career. | We would like volunteers to have a table and talk to students about their career giving them information such as GCSE and A level courses that would support their application, average salaries and typical daily jobs that they do. |
| 07/03/23 | 9.00 – 17.00 | 7 – 13 & parents | Corby Technical School | NN17 1TD Northamptonshire | Careers Fair | To provide students and parents with information about opportunities in Colleges, Apprenticeships, Universities and Employers. | Support with finding local businesses to sign up and setting up on the day. |
| 07/03/24 | 8:45 – 15:45 | 10 | Weavers Academy | NN8 3JH Northamptonshire | Mock Interviews & CV feedback | To provide realistic mock interview and CV feedback experience for Year 10 students Careers Drop Down Day. | School will provide interview questions to each volunteer. Volunteers will be required to ask questions and provide feedback to learners following interview and reviewing their CVs. |
| 20/03/23 | 08:45 – 10:15 | 12 | Guilsborough Academy | NN6 8QE Northamptonshire | Business Breakfast | Inspire and inform students of different roles and sectors, building their formal conversation and networking skills. | Meet our Year 12 students over coffee and croissants. Chat to them about your line of work and encourage them to discuss their plans. |
| 21/3/24 | 9.00 -13.25 | 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 | Rushden Academy | NN10 6AG Northamptonshire | Careers Fair | To allow pupils to meet and talk to employers from a range of careers. | Be on a stand and talk to pupils as they move around. Pupils exploring the job, entry routes, job prospects, qualifications needed etc. Last year some companies sent a short explanation of their roles, company which was shared before the event in assemblies. |
| Event Date | Event Time | Year Groups | Name | Post Code | Event Type | Aim | What you need volunteers to do |
| 01/12/23 and / or 04/12/23 | 09:00 – 12:30 | 11 | Goldington Academy | MK41 9BX Bedfordshire | Mock Interviews | To provide 1:1 mock interview experience repeated 9 times for Year 11 students. Approx.20mins for interview and feedback. | School will provide questions to each employer. Volunteers will be required to ask questions and provide feedback to learners. |
| 11/12/23 | 08:30 – 11:00 | 9 | Mark Rutherford School | MK41 8PX Bedford | Speed Networking | Inform students about your business and industry to inspire them for future opportunities. Raise awareness of your role and career journey to date. | Students will rotate every 10-15minutes around tables to talk to each employer volunteer. Where possible please bring a piece of equipment, activity or task for them to facilitate the discussion. |
| 16 or 18/01/24 | 08.00 – 09:30 | 9 | Biddenham International School | MK40 4AZ Bedfordshire | Careers Assembly | To showcase your career/sector, explain the career pathway, reference differences between skills knowledge, explain what employers look for and touch on what students can do to ensure they can access the best opportunities | Delivering a careers assembly to Year 9 with Q&A for 20minutes or 60minutes depending on volunteer capacity. |
| 06/02/24 | 13:00 – 16:00 | 9 to 13 | Harlington Upper School | LU5 6NX Bedfordshire | Apprenticeship Fair – information stall | To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, inform students of the choices when they leave school, give students a chance to meet with employers. | Have a stall with information for students and to engage with them and any questions they may have about opportunities, employment or the apprenticeship route. |
| 13/02/24 | 08:45 -12:00 | 8 or 10 | Lincroft Academy | MK43 7RE Bedfordshire | Speed Networking or Mock Interviews | Year 8 Options – to inform students of different career paths/roles & relevance to options choices Year 10 Pre-Work Experience mock interviews, what to expect on WEX | Y8 Event: Speak to small groups of students re their career path/job roles Y10 Event: Ask interview questions to small groups of students, one answers, maybe 2 observe, make notes etc |
| 28/02/24 | 8:45 -15:20 | 7 – 11 | Wixams Academy | MK42 6BA Bedfordshire | Careers Fair – information stall | For students to have encounters with local and national employers, colleges, universities and training providers | Have a stall with information and talk to students about your company/job/industry that approach their table. |
| 07/03/24 | 9:00 -12.15 | 7 | Brooklands School | LU7 3PF Bedfordshire | Speed Networking | Raise aspirations, increase careers knowledge. | Pupils will move around the room in groups of 7/8 and spend approximately 10 minutes at each table visiting a variety of employers and education providers. Every pupil visits every table. |
| 21/03/24 | 10.30 – 14.00 | All year groups | Harlington Upper School | LU5 6NX Bedfordshire | Harlington Upper School Careers Fair | Provide information about career paths, courses, opportunities, apprenticeships, and careers. | Have a stall and talk to students who may have questions. |
| 08/07/24 | 8:45 -12:00 | 8 or 10 | Lincroft Academy | MK43 7RE Bedfordshire | Speed Networking Mock Interviews | Year 8 Options – to inform students of different career paths/roles & relevance to options choices Year 10 Pre-Work Experience mock interviews, what to expect on WEX | Y8 Event Speak to small groups of students re their career path/job roles Y10 Event Ask interview questions to small groups of students, one answers, maybe 2 observe, make notes etc |
| Every Tuesday | 1.15pm – 2pm | All year groups | Harlington Upper School | LU5 6NX Bedfordshire | Employer Insights | Employers to come in and speak to students about their job, career journey, and employability tips/advice. | Speak to students, talk about their job and career journey. |
| Every Wednesday | 2.30pm – 4pm | Year 12 and Year 13 | Harlington Upper School | LU5 6NX Bedfordshire | Apprenticeship Enrichment | Give students an insight into the different apprenticeship opportunities. | Speak to students about undertaking an apprenticeship and answer any questions they have. We are also need employers to do Mock interviews. |
| Any Thursday or Friday | 14.10 -14.35 | 5 to 8 | Holywell Middle School | MK43 0JA Bedfordshire | Careers assemblies | To give every child in the school at least one career themed assembly per term, from a wide variety of sectors. Year group assemblies. 180 students per year group. | Talk to large group of students about your job, how you got into it, qualifications/skills needed etc and to allow time at the end for pupil questions. |
| Event Date | Event Time | Year Groups | Name | Post Code | Event Type | Aim | What you need volunteers to do |
| 07/12/23 | 16:00 – 19:00 | 11 & 13 | Ousedale School | MK16 0BJ Milton Keynes Newport Pagnell campus | Careers Fair – information stall | Increase exposure to as many careers/industries as possible in order to identify the appropriate pathways to follow at the next stage of their life. Represent your company and field… inspiring them to study further to progress in your industry, showcasing apprenticeships, enticing further education, explaining employment possibilities or training courses. | Exhibit with an information stall to talk to 1000+ students and parents about future pathways in your business or industry including apprenticeships. The more choices students can learn about the better! |
| 12/12/23 | 09.00 – 12.30 | 13 | Milton Keynes College | MK6 5LP Milton Keynes | Careers Talks | Talk to students where English is a second language about roles into work, employability skills, CVs, interviews, how to find work, volunteering, any vacancies in their own organisation. | Be encouraging, help them realise how many skills they have – not least courage! |
| 14/12/23 | 8.15 – 13.30 | 11 | Stantonbury School | MK14 6BN Milton Keynes | Careers Fair – information stall | We want our students to consider a wide range of further education options, helping them to make well informed study, work, and training decisions. | Have a stall with information from employers, training companies, educators with opportunities or courses (including foundation learning opportunities) for Year 11 students to explore post 16 choices through face-to-face conversations and possibly interactive experiences. |
| 02/02/24 | 08:45 – 10:00 | 7 | Glebe Farm School | MK17 8XY Milton Keynes | Speed Networking | Inform students about your business and industry to inspire them for future opportunities. Raise awareness of your role and career journey to date. | Different students will rotate with you every 10minutes around tables to talk to each employer volunteer. |
| 05/02/23 | 0900 – 1230 | Y12 upwards | Milton Keynes College | MK6 5LP Milton Keynes | Careers in the Public Services Event | To give students age 16+ studying public services more information about what these careers are like, how you got into the role, what you wish you had known first. Any information about vacancies, apprenticeships, etc would be great. | Answer students honestly as they circulate a fair-type event of stalls. It helps if you have banners and merch, but it is not essential. Being engaging with teenagers is best. |
| 12/03/23 | 9.00 – 14.00 | 8, 11, 12 & 13 | Walton High – Brooklands Campus | MK10 7HE Milton Keynes | Annual Careers Fair | To highlight different companies, opportunities, and education/career pathways available to our students. To start the conversation about next steps allowing students to build their knowledge of employers available. | Host a stand at our annual careers fair, talk to our students about opportunities within their organisation – apprenticeships, employment etc |
| 20/03/24 | 9.00 – 14.00 | 8, 11, 12 & 13 | Walton High – Brooklands Campus | MK10 7HE Milton Keynes | Annual Careers Fair | To highlight different companies, opportunities, and education/career pathways available to our students. To start the conversation about next steps allowing students to build their knowledge of employers available. | Host a stand at our annual careers fair, talk to our students about opportunities within their organisation – apprenticeships, employment etc |
| 22/05/24 | All day | 8 & 10 | St Paul’s Catholic school | MK6 5EN Milton Keynes | Careers Fair | To give pupils the opportunity for meaningful encounters with a range of providers to understand the pathways available to them. | We will provide them with a stand and they will meet pupils throughout the event to talk about routes into their sector, qualifications and job opportunities. |
| Event Date | Event Time | Year Groups | Name | Post Code | Event Type | Aim | What you need volunteers to do |
This is an opportunity for you to help build the talent of the future, create lasting relationships with potential employees, and give back to your community. Your unique industry knowledge and experience is an invaluable resource to students and can help make a real difference in a young person’s future.
To volunteer, email [email protected] stating which activity you are interested in and our local Enterprise Coordinator will introduce you to the school Careers Leader.
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