Business working with the classroom is a key component to the model of Big Idea Project. Business leaders primarily work with the classroom through mentorship, where they have the opportunity to guide the students and help them develop useful skills for the future.
Part of what many students are missing when they graduate high school is the soft skills business leaders are looking for in their applicants, such as creative problem-solving, strategic thinking, communication skills, and leadership skills, as found in a Bloomberg study. All of these are skills BIP grows through its program and through mentorship by business leaders.
But why are employers looking for soft skills these days, and how can they benefit from investing in a school’s BIP students?
In the Harvard Business Review, it was found that 60% of companies said they lacked the leadership they needed. Researchers at Bentley University found that ¾ of recruiters complain that millennials coming into the workforce are unprepared and lack the skills necessary to perform. In this case, it’s in the companies’ best interests to somehow invest in the upcoming generation to ensure they have the talent they are looking to hire and eventually replace them in the workforce. This is where Big Idea Project acts as the bridge between business and education.
“Big Idea Project empowers educators to build relationships with businesses,” said Big Idea Project Founder and Chief Ideator Tricia Halsey. “When those long-term relationships are forged, invitations for businesses to get involved in the classroom increase.”
If companies want to have an influence on the upcoming generation to ensure their success as employees in the future, they need to invest in their local Big Idea Project program. And if they don’t have one nearby, there’s a good chance to invest in their local school by helping plant the program. Bottom-line, if you’re hoping to influence the nation’s next workforce, invest in BIP.