Mind the Gap: Improving the Transition between Education and Employment

The competitiveness and competency of the UK workforce depends on the preparation of the future labour-force. The education system recognises the importance of equipping students with the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for progression and careers, to bridge the gap between Further Education and learners’ next steps. Responsibilities of Further Education providers have become more complex and multidimensional, and policy requires providers to place emphasis on connecting with employers and facilitating work-based learning. For employer engagement to function effectively, the system requires strong partnerships between a range of stakeholders: learners, providers, businesses, local community and other organisations. The expectations and contributions of all require careful planning, coordination, management and evaluation. This paper reviews relevant literature to discover the key principles of employer engagement, and provides a practical example of how partnerships have been built at a Further Education college within the Graphic Design curriculum. It uses mixed methods to collect data from employers on how we can bridge the skills gap, followed by action research leading to data collected from learners that measures the impact of employer engagement activities on their knowledge, skills and motivation to progress. The overall findings indicate that engagement creates a well-balanced curriculum, improves motivation, enhances progression opportunities, and allows for a smoother transition between education and the world of work.