A much-praised programme to improve careers guidance in North East schools is to be extended to help ensure businesses in the region have access to skilled workers.
The North East LEP’s North East Ambition programme was launched in 2017 to ensure all schools and colleges in the region achieve standards - known as the Gatsby Good Career Guidance benchmarks - for improving careers guidance by 2024.
The programme was this week praised in a House of Lords inquiry, with the benchmarks being adopted nationally after their use in the North East.
Now North East Ambition will work with businesses to assess future skills requirements and open up opportunities to re-train existing workers.
Dedicated skills facilitators will work directly with businesses to identify long-term needs and develop plans to tackle skills gaps while information for businesses will be added to the North East Ambition portal, alongside a data hub to provide the latest labour market information.
Michelle Rainbow, skills director at the North East LEP said: “The expansion of North East Ambition is a great way to continue to build upon the fantastic work that has been done so far.
“We know the labour market is facing rapid change with increased digitisation and new technologies and businesses will need to prepare for and adapt to that.
“By harnessing the success of North East Ambition, we can engage with businesses and facilitate the collaboration needed to allow employers to invest in the right skills and future-proof their workforce.”
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The LEP is working the Education Development Trust charity on the scheme.
Elaine Inglis, assistant director for careers at Education Development Trust, said: “We are very excited to be building on the excellent work undertaken by the North East LEP in establishing the North East Ambition programme.
“Having employees with the right skills will play a key role in helping local employers recover from the effects that Covid-19 has had on the economy. We know that for many SMEs it can be challenging to understand what skills development and training options are available and how to access these, which is where we can provide support.”
The North East Ambition programme built on the successful Good Career Guidance benchmarks pilot, which saw 16 schools and colleges in the North East LEP area successfully implement benchmarks identified by Sir John Holman and the Gatsby Foundation.
An independent report recently praised the scheme for its transformational effect on careers guidance in the region.