Enterprise Adviser Network Case study form

It is important that we have a bank of excellent case studies from across the Enterprise Adviser Network that demonstrates its impact and highlights the great working taking place.

A strong, simple story is the most way powerful to get our message across and illustrate the work we do in the media, our publications, on our website and social media channels. Your stories of great work provide local flavour and demonstrate the importance of our partnership with LEPs.

We are building up a bank of case studies that we can draw upon for a variety of purposes – for example when briefing minister, talking to journalists and for our social media channels. We need strong human interest stories that help increase awareness and understanding of the Network and which put a “real” face to the services that we provide

Please fill in the below form and return to lepinfo@careersandenterprise.co.ukYour LEP: SELEP, East Sussex

Name of individual/organisation you are giving information about:(eg. EA, School/College, provider)

National Trust (Sheffield Park) – EAPlumpton College

Contact details for individual/organisation:Name: Glenys LonsdaleEmail: glenys.lonsdale@nationaltrust.org.ukPhone number: 01825 790231.Postcode: TN22 3QXBackground details (please provide any information relevant to the person/project you are referring to):Time period covered: November 2018 toJuly 2019.

Location: (ideally give the name of the town/borough/area rather than just ‘London’ or ‘Manchester’)Sheffield Park, Uckfield, East Sussex

Outline the project/activity and how it is impacting young people (please be as specific as possible, include number of young people helped, type of activity, what were the outcomes and impact?):

Students from Plumpton College, a land-based college in East Sussex, have volunteered with the National

Trust at Sheffield Park for many years. In autumn 2018, Plumpton College Careers Leader Jo Buckley and

Enterprise Adviser and National Trust Volunteering Coordinator Glenys Lonsdale saw an opportunity to scale

up activity by bringing the students onto the Sheffield Park estate every week. Their aim was to enhance the

students’ skills and provide more meaningful encounters with the Sheffield Park team by involving the young

people in projects and day-to-day activities across the estate.

Since November, 30 Level 1, 2 and 3 Forestry students, and Level 3 Countryside Management students have

Enterprise Adviser Network Case study form

joined National Trust staff and volunteers to work on diverse woodland tasks. Some students, using

protective waders, have worked in the lakes to remove invasive water weeds. Others are clearing trees from

sensitive areas of the site where heavy machinery would damage wildlife habitats, harvesting the timber for

use in schools’ arts projects. Before the April bluebell season, students laid wood chip paths for Sheffield

Park’s visitors. Level 3 students are recording ancient and notable trees. Already, the students have planted

300 trees, introducing hazel and sessile oaks to make a more diverse habitat for endangered species such as

dormice.

The close relationship between Sheffield Park and Plumpton College has been mutually beneficial, staff

believe. “It’s a great opportunity for both parties to get something out of it”, says Jody Orchard, Programme

Manager for level 1 & 2 Forestry students at Plumpton College.

Sheffield Park staff are confident that nurturing relationships with the students will create a talent pipeline

into the National Trust and other land-based employers. Tom Hill, Trees and Woodland Officer, explained

that “young people are under-represented in horticulture, forestry and countryside management”. The

National Trust team expect that the experience will better prepare young people for their future land-based

careers. “It’s about getting students work-ready”, said Andy Jesson, Park and Garden Manager. Sean

McLaughlin, Instructor in Forestry at Plumpton College, hoped that volunteering at Sheffield Park would

prove to students’ future employers that they were serious about their career.

There are other “hidden benefits” for the National Trust in this collaboration. According to Andy Jesson,

working with students with different learning styles is helping Sheffield Park staff to develop and to become

stronger as a team. Glenys Lonsdale and Andy Jesson explain that drawing in young volunteers to work at

Sheffield Park could also help the Trust to promote itself to wider audiences. “It’s a chance to influence, so

that people take away National Trust principles into other environments”, suggests Andy Jesson.

Plumpton College is also benefiting from working with the National Trust. The Sheffield Park shop has begun

to stock Plumpton Estate’s award winning wine produced by the College’s viticulture and oenology students.

After strong sales, the College is also supplying National Trust shops across the South East.

Students working in the woodland spoke about their experiences at Sheffield Park. Luke Yorkshire (21), is

studying Level 2 Forestry and Arboriculture and appreciated the opportunity to learn about a Site of Special

Scientific Interest (SSSI). He praised the expertise of the Sheffield Park team: “I can ask about a plant and

they’ll tell me the Latin name, they are at the top of their game.” Bill Hill (17) was inspired by Sheffield Park

Enterprise Adviser Network Case study form

staff too, “they have got that confidence and it wears off on you. I went in not knowing what I was going to

do. I have a future now. I could see myself working here one day.” Tyler Thomas-Gray (16) plans to become a

freelance tree surgeon and believes that working with the public at Sheffield Park will help him to

communicate well with future clients. Toby Goodhew (17 and studying for a Level 1 Forestry and

Arboriculture) hoped that his work would leave an enduring legacy at Sheffield Park: “it’s not just cutting stuff

down, it’s taking care of the woodlands and knowing this place is going to be here a long time after we’re

here. That’s a good feeling”.

Building a team of volunteers from scratch was not without its challenges for Sheffield Park staff, but the

team are encouraged to see that young people often feel more at ease working outdoors and perform better

than at school. Tom Hill notes that making time to socialise during the sessions helps the students to relax

and improves their interpersonal skills: “I’m really proud of how they’ve developed. The ultimate is getting

them to lead other volunteers – the confidence they get from that is huge”.

The project is running until the end of the 2018-2019 academic year.

[755 words]

Which Gatsby Benchmark does the project/activity relate to?

GBM 5

QuotesPlease provide quotes from the Headteacher/Careers Leader/young person/EA/Provider (any or all would be welcome):See above

Enterprise Adviser Network Case study form

Above: Toby Goodhew

Enterprise Adviser Network Case study form

Above: Tyler Thomas-Gray

Enterprise Adviser Network Case study form

Above:Rear: Bill HillFront: Tyler Thomas-Gray

Clearance? (see guidelines above)

Informed consent and full permission given by all participants.

Photos attached: (Yes / No. Preferred format – JPEG, landscape, the higher the resolution the better)

Enterprise Adviser Network Case study form

Yes

Informed consent and full permission given by all participants.

Do we have your permission to use these images?YesSubmitted by: Ruth Francis Date: 21 March 2019

Please confirm that the data provided has been collected, stored and transmitted IAW the GDPR and UK Data Protection Act 2018. Including any special category data.

Confirmed

Please indicate below how you are happy for this story to be used.

Social media (Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn)

The Careers & Enterprise Company website

In the media/publicity (journalists often contact us for stories highlighting work going on in the network. We will never pass on your contact details without checking with you first)

Publications/reports

Guidelines:

1. What makes the case study special and newsworthy? Take some time to think why this case study is special and newsworthy. What makes it different and why does it stand out? Why should other people take notice?

2. What has changed? Good case studies involve action – something needs to have changed for the better. What was the challenge and how did the Enterprise Coordinator and Enterprise Adviser come up with a solution? Most importantly provide evidence of the impact.

5. Write simply: Write in simple, clear sentences so someone not familiar with the issues or our work can understand it. Avoid jargon and acronyms.

7. Photos: Ideally, we would like case studies to be include images wherever possible; a headshot, a full-length photo and one of the case study engaged in their work/activity.

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y