The message to Northamptonshire businesses from local teachers at a teacher training conference last week was clear – stronger engagement and links between education and employers is vital.
Around 50 teachers from across Northamptonshire attended Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership’s (NEP) ‘Their Future is Your Future – Northamptonshire’ conference in order to better understand current career opportunities within key sectors in the county and equip them with the insight they need to provide students with the latest industry picture locally. The conference, which took place at Chamber member Weatherbys, was convened by NEP as part of the National Careers Service Careers Inspiration programme.
Strongly supported by Opus Energy, Norbert Dentressangle, Weatherbys, British Telecom, TMI Foods, Galliford Try and others, these businesses have committed to forging stronger links with Northamptonshire academies, schools and colleges to help develop the Northamptonshire economy needs to go further faster.
The conference was opened by Jo Lappin, CEO, NEP, who said: “Helping our young people understand our economy and the types of jobs available is really important if they are to make good career choices. The growth of our businesses is reliant on having skilled and talented people who have the right qualifications to work in some of our growth sectors such as engineering, food and drink, logistics and financial services.
“Teachers are central in helping young people make informed choices and today’s event is all about our local companies showcasing the great careers available in Northamptonshire.”
“The enthusiasm and commitment of our local companies to facilitate access to a range of inspirational roles models will go a long way towards addressing the current mismatch between the careers that many young people want to pursue and the opportunities available right on their doorstep.”
Dedicated to making the conference highlights broadly available to teachers throughout the county, NEP is producing a short film, available to teachers throughout the county to download from the Love Bright Futures website – www.lovebrightfutures.com – from the end of June.
As part of the drive to better connect employers with education, the conference also saw NEP call for businesses and their staff to join an inspirers programme to help ensure Northamptonshire’s young people are better prepared for what lies ahead in terms of their future career.
There are many ways in which companies can get involved. For example, by doing an industry talk linked to specific subjects such as maths or science. Mentoring students, providing specific projects linked to an industry, inviting students to visit company premises, providing existing apprentices to talk to peers and offering short-term industry placement to teachers are some of the ways in which local businesses may wish to get involved.
NEP will be providing a matching facility between inspirers and schools and colleges to make links between education and business a much simpler and more effective process.
For more information, contact Kerry Senatore, Education Business Co-ordinator, NEP, on 01604 609535 or email kerry.senatore@northamptonshireep.co.uk.