Inspiring the future initiative for schools

Inspiring the Future (ITF) was launched in 2012 with the backing of major business and teaching organisations. The goal was to let pupils hear first-hand about the world of work from industry professionals from a wide range of sectors.

Invitations to speak at schools have been traditionally extended to parents or local business people that have long-standing connections with the institution. With the ITF website, teachers have access to thousands of volunteers at the click of a button. Volunteers, ranging from apprentices to CEOs, pledge to give an hour a year to a state school or college to talk about their job and the education route they took to get there.

Talks take a variety of formats. Teachers can filter their searches by sector or specialism, choosing activities that range from career insights to getting an industry perspective on CV writing.

Allowing students access to people from a range of sectors has two major benefits:

• Students gain first-hand insights and make better informed decisions about their subjects and career path.
• Teachers gain a valuable understanding of many sectors of which they have little knowledge or experience.

This project was the Highly Commended Winner, Innovation in Education and Training Award, CIOB International Innovation and Research Award, 2014.

The Judges said, "This initiative specifically reaches out to experienced professionals at various locations within the construction industry, and brings their experience, expertise and excitement about the sector into the school environment. Young people can hence be inspired to pursue their future career in the construction industry. ‘Inspiring the future’ recognises that one of the most significant issues facing the construction industry at the moment is its failure to market itself to school children.”

--CIOB