"Companies that Inspire" aims to bring students closer to professions with a future
- According to the OECD, students know on average only 10 occupations.
- Those who have had professional experiences during secondary school experience more successful careers.
- In central and northern European countries, such as Germany and Hungary, guidance activities in professional contexts are widespread, while Spain shows lower rates of participation in early actions of this type with companies.
With the aim of reducing this gap, “Empresas que inspiran” (Companies that inspire) was born , the pioneering project of the Bertelsmann Foundation that aims to improve career guidance for secondary school students in Spain.
A project that Volies has actively joined, along with other collaborating entities such as the Madrid-CEOE Business Confederation (CEIM), DigitalES, the Voluntare network, the Ibercaja Foundation and hundreds of other companies and public and social organisations that have already joined the programme.
How to join "Companies that inspire"?
There are several ways in which your company can participate:
- You can offer talks to high schools, given by different professionals from your company. Through these talks, students discover that it is possible to reach the same profession through different paths.
- You can also open the doors of your company to visit the facilities and be part of a daily day, something that will allow them to acquire a global vision of the business reality and the sector to which they belong.
Companies have a great responsibility and opportunity in the academic and vocational guidance of Spanish students to awaken vocations, dismantle stereotypes and raise awareness of professions and sectors with high employability.
Do you enjoy challenges?
If you are up for a challenge and really want to go for an innovative and high-impact professional volunteering activity, the third option is for you:
- It offers an individual experience through an educational stay, in which young people can get to know in depth the workings of the company, ‘shadowing’ an employee for several days.
The “Empresas que Inspiran” initiative has been recognised as the first Spanish tool of its kind to be included in the OECD’s Observatory on Digital technologies in Career guidance for Youth, bringing the educational and professional world closer through guidance actions aimed at Secondary, Baccalaureate and Basic Vocational Training students in Madrid, Catalonia and Aragon.
"It is necessary for companies and social entities to open their doors to schools so that young people can explore different sectors, professions and environments. These activities increase students' motivation and contribute to awakening interests and vocations, while breaking down stereotypes.
Some of the companies that have already joined the initiative: FCC Group, Airbus, CNIC, Bonàrea Agrup, Bricodepot, Ceim, KPMG, Naturgy, Finanzauto, Neklar Group, Fundación Telefónica, Siemens, Penguin Random House.
