With a rapidly-changing economy and the demand for skilled employees gathering pace, links between the worlds of education and business have never been more important locally, regionally and nationally.

While employers are always willing to offer work experience placements to students, and schools continue to be grateful for this, these days their needs - and the corresponding opportunities for the business world to get involved - are much more diverse.

Profound changes in the education system are afoot, making it ever more critical to build bridges between the two worlds. We continue to need individuals to act as mentors to students and teachers; businesses willing to host visits into their premises; and employees who can contribute to student development activities, for example in a facilitative or judging capacity.

There is also an increasing demand for businesses to input into the delivery and design of the curriculum to support, and ultimately benefit from, the new and radical changes that are necessary.

Many employers are keen to give freely of their time for the longer-term good of the business. This can have immediate and genuine benefits to their companies in terms of positive PR, staff development and challenging misconceptions of a particular industry.

We are heartened by the number of businesses, large and small, who have talked to us about comprehensive and holistic programmes for engaging schools and colleges.

Some say such programmes can assist with staff development needs, for example in helping specialist employees improve their "softer" skills; others point to the way in which this type of activity can help to fulfill their corporate social responsibilities.

Are you one of the thousands of businesses who get stuck into the task of nurturing the next generation of wealth creators? Then tell your story in order to receive the much-deserved recognition for their time, support and enthusiasm in engaging with students - and there is no better forum than this competition. Your example could help to inspire others and contribute to the development of your future workforce.

Updated: 09:48 Tuesday, June 01, 2004