The ICF was started in 1986, in the hope that there were better and more exciting ways to carry out education-industry liaison. Its crucial feature is that it is run as a charity, containing members with initiative, enthusiasm and flair, from a wide range of those in all areas of business and education.
The aims of the ICF are to excite students to the challenge of a career in management, and to increase understanding between business and education.
Its primary role is to promote conferences (100-400 students) for groups of 1-4 schools and colleges, throughout the year. Each conference is run in workshop style containing computer simulations, production exercises, group discussions, videos and timed case studies taken from real situations in the supporting firms.
The aim is to allow the students (and hopefully also the advisers) to develop and practise their skills within the context of a teamwork situation. Those in the CTP and other authorised personnel have extensive expertise in the organisation of the agenda, provision of the training material, construction of a suitable manual and the running of a successful event.
Schools are now facing a statutory requirement to provide work-related learning for all of their pupils in key stage 4. Work experience is not the only way to achieve this.
We believe that one of the ways of achieving this can be gained by properly coordinated work in day events in the company of business advisers. Schools and colleges need expert help to successfuly carry these out.
It is important that outside advisers who are taking part in day events, in lessons or during after-school activities are properly briefed on what is involved.
It is a principle of the ICF that we want to excite young people to find their skills within an environment which may not be immediately familiar in a school context. They can learn from each other. They can learn from outside advisers and those advisers can learn from them.
