Over coming years, the Diploma will become available in 17 different subjects in every school and college in England.  Employers have been at the heart of Diploma development, ensuring that Diploma graduates have the knowledge, skills and attitudes to give them a career head start. 

Taught in a new way, with a heavy emphasis on project-based, applied learning, Diploma teachers work with local employers to bring learning to life, developing learning materials, arranging work experience, workplace and classroom visits. Involving employers helps ensure that young people are motivated to succeed in relevant and exciting courses of study. Employers have many motivations for supporting the Diploma – including, raising awareness of a sector or industry among future employees, supporting recruitment and retention of motivated and engaged new staff, and developing existing staff. Employers are at the heart of the Diploma and many have come together now in a Network led by Sir Alan Jones of Toyota to raise awareness of the new opportunities now on offer.
 

Joining the Diploma Employer Champion Network

 
The Diploma Employer Champions Network is made up of some 150 employers who have volunteered to explain the benefits of Diplomas to fellow employers. 

 
Employers play a vital role in developing and delivering the Diploma qualifications – the Network encourages and supports this involvement.  Champions are well-informed and passionate supporters of the Diploma, representing private, public and third-sector enterprises of all sizes and business sectors, including many household names: Toyota, Rolls-Royce, BT, IBM, Hyatt, Malmaison, Toni & Guy, Sassoon, the RAF, GMTV, Lovell Partnership, Leicester City Council and the Cleveland Police.

 
By speaking at events and appearing in the media, Champions help teaching staff to excite local employers about the opportunities the Diploma provides to work with schools and colleges.  To ensure that we can support as many Diploma schools and colleges as possible, we are looking for new Employer Champions to improve our coverage.

 
What are the benefits of being a Diploma Employer Champion?

  Through the Network, Champions have the opportunity to:

·  shape the education of future generations to meet employers' needs;

·  gain understanding of the biggest change to the school system in a generation, improving knowledge for future hiring and training requirements;

·   network with other Champions regionally and nationally;

·  gain exposure and skills through giving presentations to different audiences, showcasing support to local audiences and national, regional and sectoral media.

 
 What's involved?

 
Initially, Diploma Employer Champions attend a two hour induction, provide a supportive quote about the Diploma and photo for public use. This is used in the local or trade press announcing the appointment.
 

On-going involvement varies by individual capacity and is arranged around individual schedules. Many champions contribute about half a day a month for promotional activities which might include speaking at business breakfasts, Education Business Partnership events or presentations at schools to help young people understand employer support for the Diploma.

Champions are well-supported through a dedicated unit, which provides a tailored induction and support materials, manages events for champions to attend and covers their travel expenses, maintains web resources and organises national events. Champions are not committed to any public activity without their agreement.

 
How to get involved?
 

For more information about becoming a Diploma Employer Champion, contact Jo Kelly on 0207 269 9840 (jkelly@semta.org.uk).  Visit www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19/decn to meet the Champions, and www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19/employers to find out more about the Diploma.
 

Diploma roll-out

To find out which Diplomas are being offered by local authority area, visit www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19/employercontact