Business Interchange

Business Interchange is designed to help teachers, tutors and trainers working in the further education sector to increase their skills and experience through placements within local businesses.
 
Business Interchange provides assistance, guidance and support materials to enable providers in the learning and skills sector to adopt work placements as a model of professional development in their organisation, and facilitate the provision of placement opportunities for tutors.

The programme is part of a range of government-funded services LLUK offers to learning and skills providers in England through its Catalyst programme.

If your organisation employs teachers, tutors and trainers who deliver further education courses Business Interchange offers you and your staff:

  • a free helpline putting you in contact with experienced Business Interchange co-ordinators who can provide information, advice and guidance
  • a series of best practice guides for you and your staff to help you plan and carry out an effective placement (available from the Business Interchange website)
  • online registration and placement management facility, to make it easy to plan and record details of your placement
  • a set of branded materials to help you promote Business Interchange to staff in your organisation
  • branded materials to help staff contact local employers and encourage them to host a placement (available here)

If you would like to introduce Business Interchange in your organisation please download a step-by-step guide to the programme (1.2MB PDF) to find out how to register and help a tutor arrange a placement. You can also order copies from the Business Interchange helpline on 0845 6025 291 or you can register for Business Interchange now.

If you are a business wishing to host a work placement we can help you get in touch with local further education providers - please contact the Business Interchange helpline or email  businessinterchange@lluk.org.

  • Business Interchange funding

    To claim a funding award, a line manager must approve a teacher, tutor or trainers placement proposal and certify it meets the criteria before the placement is carried out.

  • Business Interchange support

    Business Interchange provides support to learning and skills providers who want to offer teachers, tutors and trainers work placement opportunities as part of their professional development.

  • Useful links

    Catalyst programme website: http://www.catalystprogramme.org/

  • Terms and conditions

    Terms and conditions for all Business Interchange activity

  • Taking part in Business Interchange

    The first step to taking part in Business Interchange is to register your organisation.

  • Learning objectives and outputs

    The key to arranging an effective placement is being clear about what you want to achieve as an organisation, and what the teacher, tutor or trainer wants to get out of it.

  • Benefits

    Work placements help bring professional development opportunities to life, putting teachers, tutors and trainers 'back' in the field in a structured way which enhances their teaching and keeps it focused and relevant.

  • About Business Interchange

    Business Interchange aims to ensure teachers, tutors and trainers working in further education (FE) have the skills and expertise to meet the needs of the sectors they serve by creating opportunities for them to update their vocational skills.