CIOB signs up to new scheme putting thousands of volunteers in the classroom

The CIOB is officially backing Inspiring the Future, a charitable initiative that aims to train 100,000 volunteers to take the world of work into schools.

The scheme has recruited 13,500 volunteers from a range of industry sectors, but says construction is so far under-represented with just "several hundred" volunteers. But the CIOB will now be encouraging members and staff to get involved via its website and member communications, helping the organisation reach a target of 1,000 new volunteers a month.

Inspiring the Future acts as a broker or match-maker between volunteers, who each fill in detailed personal profiles, and schools looking to benefit from their expertise.

So far, 4,600 teachers and 2,700 schools have participated. Volunteers might find themselves called on to provide advice at careers fairs or “insight days”, or invited to take part in classroom activities alongside teachers.

Bridget Bartlett, deputy chief executive of the CIOB, told CM that the scheme could be a perfect fit with CIOB members. “Everyone accepts that the quality of careers information in schools isn’t great, so it’s down to the industry to give teachers more information.

“Our members are constantly asked to do careers events in schools, but this is a bit less ad hoc and it helps with the curriculum. And it can lead them into working with the school on an ongoing basis, so we think it should be appealing for members.”

Inspiring the Future volunteers at a careers fair

Inspiring the Future welcomes individuals at all stages of their careers, from apprentices to directors. People can sign up on their own initiative, or with the support of an employer – Barratt, Berkeley Group and Persimmon have already signed up a supporters.

“Having an intermediary means [Inspiring the Future] knows which schools are interested in what, instead of a blind approach. It’s free to members, and it’s also good for Novus groups – schools like young people that explain things in young people’s terms,” Bartlett added.

The scheme also removes a technical hurdle to volunteering in schools as it does not require approval by the Disclosure and Barring Service (which has replaced Criminal Records Bureau checks), as volunteers will always be accompanied by teachers.

Phil Pyatt, programme director, said: “We’ve got several hundred construction volunteers, but that’s not really enough to show people the different types of jobs. We also need to educate the teachers about the industry, they often see it as a second class profession, so we need to get more people in, and more women in construction in as well.

"We’re finding there’s a real interest for construction, and also that employers [from all sectors] really want to get into schools – they’re concerned about their future skills gaps.”

The programme mainly targets 14-to-18-year-olds, but Inspiring the Future has recently launched a sister programme called Primary Futures aimed at the under-11 age group.

“Research has shown that young people are making their choices at a very young age, often they’ve made up their minds by 13. If you don’t get to them early, you’ve lost that generation,” Pyatt suggested.

Meanwhile, the CIOB is also engaged in discussions with Class of Your Own, the award-winning social enterprise delivering the Design, Engineer, Construct! syllabus to 20 schools across the country in partnerships with construction employers and professional institutions.

COYO hopes that the CIOB will consider adopting a school, and also that the qualification – which is available for 11-14 year olds, GCSE students and post-16 students – could be accredited by the CIOB.