Ernst and Young

''We are developing a strong relationship with the Whitefield school cluster helping them to identify and solve some of the critical issues facing them in a rapidly changing environment, in tandem we are developing a mentoring programme with the school to provide aspirational coaching to Year 10/11 pupils. We are also actively placing our employees in school governor roles around the city.'

Our work in Bristol is part of Ernst & Young's 'Education Partnership' programme, a key strand of the firm's community investment strategy, which has received a 'Big Tick' from Business in the Community's Awards for Excellence.

The judges were impressed with our ‘whole school' approach to supporting young people in order to maximise the added value we can bring to their development. Our programme provides wide ranging support, impacting positively on students' academic ability, employability skills, enterprise awareness, life aspirations and physical environment. It also aims to support young people through developing their teachers; and through enhancing the management of their school by providing strategic advice at management and board level.

In 2005/06 our people volunteered over 3,000 hours supporting 400 pupils directly and over 4,000 pupils indirectly, through mentoring, enterprise days, IT clubs, reading support, team challenges and much more. '