Challenge laid down to help youngsters

Sep 17 2008 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD firms were today challenged to help young people get ready for the workplace.

Leading politicians joined the launch of Business in Schools in Yorkshire – a new campaign and website linking business with education.

Rosie Winterton, regional minister for Yorkshire, and David Blunkett, a former education minister and MP for Sheffield Brightside, were among speakers at the launch in Leeds.

Schools and colleges throughout the region have been invited by education foundation Edge to join the website by registering the opportunities for employers to help deliver work-related learning. Hundreds of schools have already signed up and local businesses can now be the first in the country to go online to search for the activities available, which range from giving a one-hour presentation to providing support for new diplomas.

Edge said Business in Schools was a response to the “overwhelming” need for more employers to assist with work-related learning in schools and colleges.

While almost 90% of employers in Yorkshire and Humberside think it is vital for young people to get practical experience of the workplace while in education, only 6% are fully involved with local schools and colleges. Among those local employers involved in working with schools and colleges, 34% said it helped improve recruitment, 14% said it improved staff skills and 125 said it helped improve efficiency and profits.

However, a third of employers said lack of time and resources were the main barrier to getting more fully involved.

Edge partnership director Jonathan Bramsdon said: “For years, employers have highlighted their dissatisfaction with the key skills of young people leaving our schools and colleges. Well, now is their chance to do something about it.

“When we spoke to Yorkshire and Humber employers about working with schools and colleges, they called for more information and a dedicated website to help them.

“We hope Business in Schools will be the answer they’ve been looking for – making it easier for them to take their business skills out of the boardroom and into the classroom, thereby ensuring the workforce of tomorrow is better prepared and job ready.”

Visit the website at www.businessinschools.co.uk for more information.