£150,000 funding boost for links 
between business and schools

Three local schools look set to benefit from a further £150,000 in funding provided by the Government to the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for Leeds City Region to strengthen links between business and education.
King Jamess School in Knaresborough is one of three local schools planning to take part in the Enterprise Adviser programme.King Jamess School in Knaresborough is one of three local schools planning to take part in the Enterprise Adviser programme.
King Jamess School in Knaresborough is one of three local schools planning to take part in the Enterprise Adviser programme.

Having successfully completed the government’s Enterprise Adviser Pilot, one of only five in the country, the LEP will now join the national roll-out of the programme, led by the government’s Careers & Enterprise Company.

The LEP said that Harrogate Grammar School, St Aidan’s High School and King James’s School in Knaresborough are all planning to take part in the scheme.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The programme will see the recruitment of more business volunteers, or “Enterprise Advisers”, to advise schools’ senior leadership teams. The aim is to better equip young people with the skills needed to join the workforce.

Stephanie Burras, chairwoman of the LEP’s Employment and Skills Panel, said: “It is a great vote of confidence from government that the LEP has been chosen to join the first wave of this project.

“Having successfully delivered the pilot programme, signing up over 100 business volunteers and working with over a third of secondary schools in the region, we will continue to improve the relevance of learning within the City Region’s schools, colleagues, universities and other educational institutions.”

The Enterprise Advisers will help local schools to develop their careers and enterprise strategies and create toolkits to support this work.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Coun David Green, deputy chair of the LEP’s Employment and Skills Panel, said: “This is a unique opportunity to link our schools and young people with experienced business leaders, willing to share their knowledge and skills.

“There is currently a disparity between the educational choices that young people are making and where the jobs vacancies exist now and will exist in the future. This programme is vital if we are to fully prepare our young people for the future labour market and ensure schools have the networks of support to get pupils work ready.”

The LEP is recruiting new volunteer business advisers from across Leeds City Region who are passionate about supporting young people. Interested business leaders should email [email protected] or visit www.the-lep.com/skills

Related topics: