The Employer Standards show that meaningful engagement with young people is more than a social good — it’s a proven way to strengthen talent pipelines, develop essential skills and support long‑term business success. Grounded in real employer evidence, the 2024/25 report highlights how strategic, sustained careers engagement delivers measurable value for organisations of all sizes.
If you’re still viewing careers education as a “nice-to-have”, the latest insights from the Employer Standards 2024/25 should make you rethink. The evidence is clear: strategic engagement with young people isn’t charity work — it’s a talent strategy with measurable business impact.
Below, Berkshire Careers Hub shares three key insights from the latest Employer Standards report, revealing what works — and why it matters — for employers looking to build a resilient, future‑ready workforce:
Insight 1 – Workforce
Insight 2 – Essential Skills
Insight 3- Scale and Impact
Insight 1 — Build the Workforce You Need
Employers who intentionally support young people through the early stages of their career journey see a tangible uplift in recruitment outcomes.
Here’s what the data shows:
Employers that help young people practise application processes are 51% more likely to say their outreach encourages more young people to apply for roles.
Organisations that proactively engage underrepresented groups — including learners with SEND, those in alternative provision, or from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds — are 20% more likely to develop new and more diverse talent pipelines.
Those who evaluate their outreach to understand impact are 40% more likely to report improvements in early‑career recruitment.
If you want stronger, more diverse early‑talent pipelines, intentional careers outreach must be part of your workforce strategy.
Insight 2 — Essential Skills Drive Business Value
Workplace experience isn’t just beneficial for young people — it’s a direct investment in your organisation’s future capability.
Employers offering any form of workplace experience are 77% more likely to report business benefits.
Those who help young people understand how essential skills are valued at work are more than twice as likely to see reduced recruitment costs.
Developing essential skills through real experiences builds a future workforce that can adapt, innovate and meet emerging business priorities — without ballooning recruitment budgets.
Insight 3 — Scale and Impact Come from Long‑Term Partnerships
Consistency matters. Sustained collaboration with the same schools, colleges or activity providers pays dividends.
Employers who build long‑term partnerships are 29% more likely to report young people applying for roles in their organisation.
Those who use the Employer Standards more than once see ongoing improvements in the quality of their engagement.
Strategic, long‑term careers education isn’t a box‑ticking exercise. It’s a route to scalable impact, stronger talent outcomes and better alignment with future workforce needs.
💬 So, what does this mean for employers?
If we want to solve recruitment challenges, close skills gaps and build more inclusive workforces, we must think beyond short-term initiatives.
The evidence is overwhelming: careers education is one of the most powerful — and underused — levers we have for shaping early‑career talent.
Those investing strategically today will be the employers with the strongest pipelines tomorrow.
“The Employer Standards evidence sends a clear message to employers: engaging with young people isn’t about goodwill alone — it’s about building the workforce you need. From developing essential skills to strengthening early career recruitment, strategic and sustained careers engagement delivers measurable business benefits. Across Berkshire, we see time and again that long term partnerships are key to creating real impact — for employers, young people and our regional workforce.”
— Allison Giles, Strategic Careers Hub Lead
Join the Berkshire Careers Hub network of employers — a collaborative, forward‑thinking group committed to building the region’s future workforce.
By partnering with local schools, colleges and specialists you’ll benefit from:
- streamlined access to young talent
- support in delivering high‑quality, skills‑rich experiences
- insight-driven tools like the Employer Standards to guide improvement
- a stronger, more diverse pipeline for your organisation and for Berkshire’s economy
Get involved, shape the future, and help us make Berkshire a powerhouse of early‑career talent.
