Jonathan Miller (pictured), UK sales director for Partners& has been appointed the chair of the volunteer advisory board for Working Options in Education – a charity organisation which helps young people with employability and life skills.
Miller is already a volunteer with three other charity organisations: KidsOut, Birmingham Food Council and the BPFS Black Leaders Network.
“My parents both came to the UK from Jamaica in the 60s. My mother was a teacher and so is my brother and both have taught in some pretty challenging schools, so I know I have been privileged in both my upbringing and my education, attending a Grammar school and university,” said Miller.
“Even as a well-educated young man, with both parents in professional careers, I wasn’t fully aware of the options available to me in the working world. My volunteer work allows me to share the benefit of my knowledge, experience and career, with young men and women who may not have had the same benefits as I have had, or access to the broad range of careers often reserved for those with inherited networks or high-level education,” the sales director added. “It’s just about me letting them know what options are out there for them, I’ve got a few experiences to share, and I hope to make a difference.”
Miller also mentioned that one of the things he tries to explain to the young people is that nobody expect them to have a clear career path at 17, and that if they combine what they love doing and what they are good at doing, then “it will hardly feel like work at all.”
He also hopes his voluntary work would inspire more young people into working in the insurance industry.
"Our industry volunteers are the backbone of our work in inspiring students. Jonathan has been a volunteer for a while and has not only raised the aspirations of the young people we work with, but he's also supported us in developing our work and reach. When we set up the new board, he felt like the perfect chair to steer this group,” said Working Options in Education CEO Rachel Roxburgh.
Working Options in Education has a “Career Pathways Programme,” which has helped over 20,000 young people. Its volunteer advisory board is comprised of business volunteers who provide input into how the charity can help students understand the employment skills needed and where there are employment opportunities.
Working Options in Education was voted by Partners& staff to be the company’s charity for 2022.
