Burnsville Business Education Network 

 If you’re looking to connect with schools, students and make an impact on our future workforce, the Business Education Network (BEN) is a good place to start. We strive to narrow the workforce skills gap by bringing together local employers and educators to focus on the common goal of strengthening tomorrow’s workforce by building a stronger talent pipeline for the employers. We achieve this by ensuring that students from all backgrounds are exposed to a variety of career paths and that they have access to skills, degree and certificate programs that prepare them for success in the workplace. 
 

Projects:  

• Workplace Skills Certificate Program for high school students based on a curriculum called “Bring your A Game to Work” 

• Student Job Search Workshop to help students learn how to search, apply and interview for jobs 
• Student Job Fair for local businesses to recruit students for summer, part-time or full-time jobs 
• State of the Schools to engage and inform local businesspeople on school issues and BEN activities 
• Teacher and Counselor Externships for teachers and counselors to experience real world workforce issues inside our local businesses to bring back to their students 
• Work–based Learning Program is a voluntary opportunity for students to apply the concepts of the Skills Certificate Class in the workplace through a paid work experience with an employer who agrees to participate and report back on the experience. 

• Parent Forum & Resource Fair to provide information and resources to parents about current workforce trends and the wide variety of opportunities for their students upon high school graduation (from employment or military service to certificates, technical education and four–year degrees) 

BEN meets monthly. 

For more information or to join, contact julie@burnsvillechamber.com.