Slides presented to HEA fellows network on implementing skills development at the School of Law, Sheffield

1. Implementing skills
development – the
Commercial Awareness
Certificate
Gareth Bramley
School of Law

2. The Learning and Teaching
strategy – 2016-2021
O “Our focus on graduate attributes has
led to an expansion in skills development for
enterprise, entrepreneurship and employability,
including developments both within and outside
the curriculum”
O “As the landscape of higher education provision
changes we will also need to explore new
partnerships, for instance working with employers
in developing further pathways and modes of
delivery”

3. The Commercial Awareness
Certificate
O 6 workshops – each 2 hours in length
O Extra-curricular – always at 5-7pm
(perfect time!)
O Broad range of topics – Negotiation skills,
‘law firms as a business’, alternative
routes into the profession, future legal
developments

4. Engagement with external
partners
O Each session opened by an external
speaker – from a range of legal sources
including large commercial firms, niche
practice, in house, Trade Mark attorney,
small to mid tier firm
O Interaction of visitor with students – focus
on student centred activities, from
problem solving to mock negotiation

5. The benefits
O De-mystifying what commercial awareness
means
O Insight from legal practice as to what the key
employability skills are
O Informal and engaging
O Offered to all students from all levels of study
O Counts towards HEAR recognition, granting of
certificate of attendance from School of Law

6. Recording and storing the
content

7. Feedback from students

8. A success – and a work in
progress
O Very good attendance from students – most
popular extra-curricular course run in the
School of law
O Very positive feedback from students
For the future:
1. Increased range of workshops
2. More entries into the video competition
3. Student centred vs ‘chalk and talk’ approach?
4. The dream – integrated into the curriculum,
credit bearing?

9. Top tips
O For extra-curricular activities: advertising is key –
poster, student activities fair sign up, targeted
emails (the personal touch)
O Encourage feedback and follow student
recommendations
O Think carefully about the planning of events in the
calendar
O Requires dedicated professional services support