Schools' Business Partnership

Adding value to the Department of Education & Science 'School Completion Programme' this programme aims to positively impact on educational inclusion and address key issues in areas of educational inclusion in Ireland. The programme does this by matching one school with a large local business and engaging in various programmes. The number of schools currently matched nationally is 158. Through the Schools' Business Partnership a menu of programmes has been developed to address key educational issues for these schools across the country. Marks & Spencer Ireland have been the lead sponsor of the Schools' Business Partnership since its inception - a remarkable commitment.





Click Here to view list of Current Links
Click Here to view list of current SBP staff profiles

Companies join one or more of the following programmes:

Student Mentoring Programme

The final two years of education are probably the most important for many students' academic careers. The Student Mentoring Programme provides students with a mentor from the outside world of work to encourage and assist them through this period. The programme encourages the student to stay in school, promotes their self-esteem and develops their awareness of the workplace. The benefits for businesses involved with the Student Mentoring Programme are improved reputation and loyalty in the local community, a better-skilled local workforce from which to draw future employees and improved staff morale and motivation from involvement in a programme which can be included in staff appraisal and development. 1, 723 people have participated in this initiative to date.

Skills @ Work

This programme sponsored by Cadbury Ireland gives students an insight into life after school. Employees and managers from the partnering business provide students with a firsthand insight into the diversity of employment roles within a company. For employees this provides an opportunity to enhance and develop presentation skills and recognition of the contribution of different staff roles within the company. This also presents companies with an opportunity to recruit strategically into the company through partnership with a local school. The programme provides site visits, ‘A Day in the Life' talks, CV workshops, mock interviews, company overviews, interview skill techniques and many other sessions such as workplace etiquette, teamwork, etc.

Management Excellence for Principals Programme

A unique programme in the Irish education and business context, Management Excellence for Principals (MEP) invites business leaders to share expertise and strategy with educational leaders through a series of workshops over the course of the school year. Topics identified by principals include time management, leadership and performance management. 62% of Ireland's post primary principals have participated to date at venues across the country. Companies currently participating include: J & J, Coillte, élan, National Irish Bank, Diageo, CRH (John A. Wood), Anglo Irish Bank, Diageo, IBM, Pramerica, RTÉ, Musgrave SVC, Bose, Vware, Xerox, Irish Management Institute, Centocor, the Kerryman, Intel, DBL Capital, Ulster Bank and Donegal Creameries. All of these companies provide these seminars free gratis to the principals.
Cornmarket Group Financial Services Ltd sponsor this programme.


Click Here for further information on the MEP programme
Click here for confirmed MEP Dates 2009 2010
Cornmarket Sponsorship - Click here for Press Release

Summer Work Placement Programme

This initiative is run in partnership with SBP participating companies and member companies of the Irish Funds Industry Association. The programme provides students with an invaluable insight into leading Irish businesses after their Leaving Certificate by providing quality work placements lasting 6-12 weeks. For many students it is an ideal start to their careers, and the businesses provide a supportive environment for a young person to build their confidence. Employers benefit from the opportunity to recruit strategically from their local community and report that the students dispay great enthusiasm and the motivation to maximise the opportunities given.

Click here to download Summer Work Placement Programme 2008 Leaflet

Education Task Force

The Task Force aims to develop quality programmes and initiatives to support Irish education. The current Task Force is looking at ways of supporting school boards of management. In December 2005, the Task Force launched ‘Lift Off' - a guide to work experience for schools and businesses.
Click here to download SBP Lift Off Work Experience Guide

Annual Report

Click here to download SBP Annual Report 2007-2008

Click here to download SBP Annual Report 2006-2007

Click here to download SBP Annual Report 2005-2006

Click here to download SBP Annual Report 2004-2005

Click here to download SBP Annual Report 2003-2004

For further information please contact 01 874 3809 or sbp@bitc.ie