In today’s rapidly evolving labour market, the connection between education and the world of work matters more than ever and one of the most impactful elements of this bridge is the role played by business volunteers - professionals who give their time, expertise and insight to support students in developing real-world employability skills.
Over the last two weeks, the Education Team at Leicestershire Cares delivered five Interview Technique events, supported by 63 dedicated business volunteers, reaching 670 students across local schools. That’s an incredible 240 hours of volunteer time. At each event, volunteers stepped into the role of interviewer, giving students the rare opportunity to practise and refine their interview skills in a structured but supportive environment.
For many students, this was their first experience of a realistic interview setting. The difference was palpable: what began as nervous uncertainty often turned into confident reflection and clearer next steps. Volunteers didn’t just ask questions; they offered personalised advice and shared stories from their own careers.
There’s no substitute for direct human interaction when it comes to developing confidence, communication skills and professional awareness. For students, speaking with someone working in industry, hearing their story, receiving honest feedback, answering real interview questions, is transformative. It turns abstract concepts like “professionalism” and “work readiness” into something tangible and attainable.
On behalf of Beaumont Leys School, we would like to express our sincere thanks for the time you have given us, in facilitating practice interviews for our year 10 students. We know from past-experience, that this event really helps our students to mature in their outlook and to start thinking about post-16 education and the world of work.
Josh Radford, Assistant Headteacher, Beaumont Leys School
We all just wanted to say a massive thank you to both you and all the volunteers for your support and help in making the mock interviews such a success. It was beautiful to see the change in all the students and just how much their confidence levels increased after the interviews. I only heard of more positivity about the sessions from our students for day two so again thank you.
Priscilla Gbadeyan, Careers Officer, Babington Academy
Students often enter employability events with limited exposure to the expectations of the workplace. When volunteers step into classrooms or halls as interviewers, mentors and role models, they bring:
- Authentic professional insight: students learn what employers are actually looking for in real recruitment situations.
- Immediate feedback: students benefit from tailored advice that helps them refine CVs, interview techniques and workplace communication on the spot.
- Inspiration and aspiration: meeting working professionals helps young people imagine themselves in future careers, breaking down stereotypes and expanding horizons.
These interactions build confidence and help young people form a clearer understanding of their strengths and areas for development, something that isolated careers lessons can’t replicate. Furthermore, this kind of employer engagement isn’t just good practice - it sits at the heart of national careers policy in England. The government’s Careers Guidance and Access for Education and Training Providers statutory guidance expects schools and colleges to provide high-quality careers education aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks, the evidence-based framework that defines world-class careers guidance for young people. Two benchmarks in particular speak directly to the value of volunteer involvement:
- Benchmark 5: Encounters with employers and employees: every learner should have multiple opportunities to learn from and engage with professionals in the world of work.
- Benchmark 6: Experiences of workplaces: meaningful exposure to real work environments and employer practices.
While frameworks and policy help embed careers education structurally, the magic happens in those moments of connection - a student’s first handshake, their first confident answer to a tricky question, the moment a professional genuinely listens and responds to their ambitions. Business volunteers act as the living embodiment of what careers education strives to achieve: they bring workplaces to life, demystify professional expectations and, most importantly, invest in young people as individuals. For students, that face-to-face interaction can be the spark that shifts a vague idea of “future work” into a clear and reachable journey. Employability events supported by business volunteers do more than fill a timetable slot. They enrich young people’s career readiness, build confidence and link classroom learning to real-world opportunities. In a policy landscape increasingly focussed on high-quality careers education and employer engagement, volunteers are not just contributors, they are catalysts, helping schools meet national expectations and, more importantly, helping young people step into their futures with clarity and confidence.
If you would like to get involved please contact bella@leicestershirecares.co.uk