A move to encourage young people to take up low carbon and ‘green’ careers has been launched in the region today – which just happens to be National Employability Day (Friday 26 June).
The Regional Mayor, Tim Bowles has announced that from September, every secondary school and college across the West of England will be part of the West of England Careers Hub.
This works with schools across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire to inspire young people and prepare them for the world of work.
Currently, the Hub is working, remotely, with 76 schools and colleges but from September 2020 it will support 95 schools and colleges – including special educational needs schools and pupil referral units.
From September, the Hub will also focus more on engaging young people in low carbon and “green” careers, helping ensure the West of England has access to the skilled workforce it needs to tackle the climate emergency.
West of England Mayor, Tim Bowles, said: “Encouraging children and young people to develop the skills our region needs in future is at the core of our Careers Hub activity.
“This focus on homegrown talent is more important than ever as we look at our region’s economic renewal, coming out of Covid-19.
“Skills and training are a top priority. I want all our young people, whatever their background or challenges, to realise their potential. By connecting them with what the world of work can offer them, and giving them the right skills for our region’s employer, we can give them the best possible start in their chosen career.”
Young people who have regular, meaningful contact with employers while at school are more likely to find employment or pursue further education or training according to research.
Young people who have regular, meaningful contact with employers while at school are more likely to find employment or pursue further education or training according to research.
John Yarham, Interim CEO of The Careers & Enterprise Company, said: “Careers Hubs drive accelerated performance in careers education and have proven particularly robust and resilient during the Covid-19 crisis, continuing to support young people in local communities.
“Careers Hubs bring people together. They create a powerful partnership between schools, colleges, employers and local agencies focused on improving skills and opportunity for young people, tailored to local need – nationally led, locally developed and delivered. This partnership is a critical point of difference from the past and means we are better positioned to weather the storm and help our next generation navigate the choppy waters ahead.
“Schools, colleges and young people have a real-time connection to the changing jobs market – opening opportunity in areas that are emerging the strongest and growing the fastest. What this means is we have the opportunity to more closely match real people to real jobs in real-time. It is a proven robust and sustainable model for the needs of now and into the future.”
The expansion of the Careers Hub is just part of the work WECA is leading in skills and employment.
The West of England Regional Economic Recovery taskforce is working on a recovery plan; including the key priority to support residents to develop new skills, training and employment opportunities. WECA has committed £5m to kick-start some of this work.
WECA has already expanded its Future Bright coaching and mentoring programme to help people impacted by coronavirus, and it continues to support adult education providers to ensure that thousands of people continue to have access to training and re-training opportunities.
The Careers Hub was launched by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in September 2018, to initially work with 25 schools and colleges across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Thanks to a successful start, the Hub has now been awarded a further £284,000 from the Careers & Enterprise Company, allowing it to work with 95 schools and colleges across the West of England.
All Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and Pupil Referral Units (PRU) schools, colleges and sixth form colleges will also become part of the Careers Hub. The schools and colleges will be supported to improve knowledge and understanding of career opportunities and experiences of the workplace for young people, allowing them to make more informed choices about their future careers.
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