The Enterprise Graduate Programme (EGP)
What is the Enterprise Graduate Programme?
The Enterprise Graduate Programme (EGP) is the flagship of our Employer Engagement strategy. By providing young people with internships, guest lectures and workplace visits, the EGP acts as a bridge between education and the world of work. One CTK student said the Goldman Sachs workshop she attended gave her a clear insight into the world of Investment Banking.
As part of the BTEC Business core curriculum, students benefit from visiting speakers, employer-led seminars and a mentoring programme. However, for many young people the highlight of the 18 month programme is the chance to do a six-week paid internship. In the past our students have spent their summers working with various industry leaders. Some were even offered part-time employment when their internships completed.
The College's Enterprise Graduate Programme, which is designed to raise the aspirations, achievement and employability of its participants, is offered in partnership with the Career Academy network. This partnership gives our students access to the resources of a national network. It also gives employers access to a range of free materials through the member's area of the Career Academies website.
All of these opportunities help to create, in the words of the Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown, "an enterprise culture open to all".
How you can get involved
The Enterprise Graduate Programme facilitates a range of opportunities for employers to make a difference in the lives of young people. Through employer visits, or seminars held in the workplace, a Business student's studies are brought to life. Meeting professionals in their work environment also fuels their aspirations and helps them to develop confidence.
By sharing their experiences, Guru Lecturers help to ground the BTEC National Diploma curriculum firmly in the current business practice. Topics can include specialist areas of study or wider employability issues such as business etiquette. These lectures also give employers a chance to impart students and Career Academy teachers with valuable insights.
Internships introduce our students to the demands, responsibility and accountability of a real working environment and give them a chance to use their hard-won skills. With a year's business study under their belts, they can make valuable contributions to organisations. Employers have reported that Career Academy interns enhance both staff development and an organisation's approach to employee diversity.
Christ the King's coveted Internship programme is considered the 'Jewel in the Crown' of the Enterprise Graduate Programme. These paid six-week placements take place in the summer between the first and second years of the programme and give our young people a rare glimpse into a professional workplace. In order to win one of these coveted places they must show initiative and convince employers that they are both capable and reliable.
The EGP draws a lot of its success from the Advisory Board's efforts. Being an Advisory Board member allows local business leaders to give back to their community while taking a leading role in ensuring the programme's success. As 'Business Champions' they meet four times a year to help improve the programme and their contacts often lead to increased opportunities for our students.
The Employer Engagement team go out of their way to provide the necessary support, guidance and information our business partners expect. We recognise that, busy pursuing their own successful endeavours, our business partners tend to be "time poor". However, in our experience employers tend to find the experience rewarding and a lot less time consuming than they had expected.
Partners in Business play a crucial role in the Career Academy experience. These business professionals share their expertise with students through the duration of their course by providing them with real-life examples.
We hope to work together with more organisations to raise the aspirations and employability of our talented young people.
For more information and to get involved please:
- Contact Sandra Skelton or Dawn Dowdie on 020 8297 9433.
- Join us on LinkedIn.
- Fill out our Feedback Form.
