Shaesta Leawal

Social Sciences Graduate with post-grad diploma in Career Guidance and QCG ( recognised ) with 20 years' experience managing major projects across Retention, Recruitment and Careers guidance in the commercial and social arenas. Experience in industry includes Capita and Biscom Resource Management. Social enterprises include Midlands universities, independent schools and Solihull Met Council. Worked with 16-18 yr olds plus post grads including MBA students. Key to success is my network of business partners including the magic circle and Midlands SME businesses. Qualified to use Myers Briggs and other key psychological assessments.

 I am a Social Sciences Graduate with post-grad diploma in Career Guidance, QCG, with over 20 years of experience managing major projects across retention, business development, recruitment, and career guidance in the commercial and social arenas."

 My experience in industry includes, Birmingham Education Business Partnership Capita and Biscom Resource Management, including universities in the Midlands. Colleges, Secondary schools and Solihull Metropolitan Council.  needs. I have been always involved with network of business partners in Midlands SME businesses, in order to develop and sustain links with business to support school with various initiatives. 

I am currently employed at Alderbrook school and Sixth Form, delivering career guidance through a variety of one-to-one interventions, with specialist knowledge on supporting students’ year 7 up to year 13. 

 I am involved in delivery of work-related learning activities and work closely with employers to recruit speakers for assemblies, design and deliver annual careers convention for the school, as well as practice interviews and work experience support for year 12 students. 

 I design and deliver tutorials, workshops, interviewing students, creating online resources.

I work closely with industry employers to access opportunities, enabling social mobility through continuous research of the labour market, skill gaps, and employment. Providing training support to ensure we achieve positive outcomes for young people.

 I am Skilled in working for Nonprofit Organizations, Social Enterprise, Event Management, Career advice and Mentoring. Community Engagement, promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusive practises. equipped with transferable skills to work with a very vast range of individuals and customise my approach accordingly. I am also a sound business developer, who can bring a lot to this role by transferring skills gained from my role as a coordinator for Birmingham and Solihull Connexions and National Education Business Partnership.

As Team Co-ordinator, I was responsible for negotiation Service Level Agreements between the organisation and its customers, mainly with the heads of secondary schools and colleges. The aim of the agreement was to ensure that the statutory element of work-related learning was included in the curriculum as well as FE and HE provision and organising various elements of enterprise and job tasters as well as careers fairs and mock interviews, using volunteers to introduce students to the world of work. These measures ensured that employability was delivered as part of varied learning experiences.  I was also responsible for preparation for work experience placements to ensure students benefited from meaningful work-based learning and made informed career choices. 

This role gave me a chance to address lack of employer engagement in some educational institutions and reinforce work related agenda as part of essential learning for all ages. As a result, I developed and maintained close relationships with a number of private and public sector employers. As part of my role, I was constantly networking with employers through various methods such as events organised by Chamber of Commerce, and various Business Associations in order to promote benefits of involvement. Subsequently I was also involved in organising such events in order to attract and increase number of employers, supporting work experience and other work-related learning programmes in designated institutions under my case load. 

This role enabled me to develop additional skills such as negotiation, communication and event management in order to work effectively in partnership with academic staff in schools and colleges. Similarly, it enhanced my understanding of employer’s and student’s needs along with good understanding of legislation related to employability, education, safeguarding and professional standards. 

I have a proven business development and marketing skills in target driven sales environment of recruitment for five years at Capita Education Resourcing.

I worked as recruitment consultant and later promoted to the position of Branch Coordinator. These roles involved achieving high value of sales and targets, which was to be complimented with excellent standard of customer service and ability to identify opportunities which generated further business and finding employment opportunities for clients.

opportunities. I have achieved excellent results in recruitment industry and developed strong business development, interpersonal and commercial skills and decided to use my skills in supporting young people in schools.

 I have also covered wide range of school and colleges, where I delivered services to very diverse range of students in the last years.

I have the expertise to deal with various challenges such as managing expectations and aspirations of student’s staff and employers, while remaining fair, impartial and individual focused in my approach.

I Have been responsible for organising talks and work placements to wide range of students, I achieve positive outcomes and support students through structured and effective planning and engaging with external agencies.

I have been involved in gathering labour market information and actively involved working with employers to understand the current and future employment trends, as well is creating meaningful opportunities for young people, preparing them for world of work. This also includes support to businesses to implement their social value agenda, through volunteering, delivering talks, funding, and work experience placements. The diversity of student cohort   is a great opportunity to advice and support at all levels such as guidance with FE and HE as well as vocational routes. 

Extensive experience in the following fields: 
• Career Guidance
- Level 7 qualified
- Experience of delivery in schools, FE , HE and NEET
• Employer engagement
- Supporting preparation for work and employability skills
- Project management
- Marketing /sales 
- Event management
• Recruitment
- Business development 
- Account management
- Sales expertise

Providing impartial advice and guidance to all students by delivering information on further education, apprenticeships, and employment. Building business relationships and employer partnerships to enable students to leave school with the required work skills and experience. Drawing on my background in both recruitment and business development to ensure students are aware of what employers want and how best to make them stand out.
Raising aspirations is vital and enables students to view their own potential and see what is possible.
Type of activities delivered includes, one to one and group sessions, multi- agency work such as collaboration with local enterprise hub, organising events including careers conventions, practice interview days to ensure that careers education stays as apart of the curriculum from year 7- 13.