Business Interchange placements are an opportunity for you to:

• Support the delivery of learning where it counts, at a local level, and directly contribute to students’ knowledge of your business sector before they enter the workforce
• Develop direct links between your business and local FE providers, creating new networking opportunities and dialogue
• Consult with educational specialists and assign them specific projects with outcomes that will benefit your organisation
• Influence the development of local qualifications and training aimed at your sector
• Ensure learning providers have the knowledge to address the training needs of your business.

The short exchange placement will also provide additional opportunities for two-way dialogue and a chance for your own staff to develop their skills and knowledge by spending time working with students within a local FE setting.

A programme called ‘Lecturers into Industry’ is already running successfully in Northern Ireland. For more information about ‘Lecturers in Industry’ please visit www.lsdani.org.uk/programmes/lec/.

Opportunities
Pilots will start as early as October 2007 for the industry awareness placement and the short exchange. The short and vocational placement pilots will begin in January 2008 whilst the sabbatical pilot will be available from September 2008.

Next steps
If you think your organisation could support a teacher in updating their vocational skills and would like to find out more about Business Interchange and how to apply please visit www.takeeducationfurther.org.

If you are a Sector Skills Council and would like to know how you can support the delivery of Business Interchange opportunities within your sector, please contact project manager Alix Craven on 07971 961 620 or send an email.