Sheffield City Region has secured more than £130,000 of funding to further boost careers education, helping to tackle youth unemployment and supporting businesses to build back better from the challenge of Coronavirus. We’re asking businesses to support the initiative by opening up to young people for mentoring, shadowing and work experience to help with skills development.
A new Careers Hub will be launched in Sheffield, allowing up to 55 new local schools and colleges to work together with universities, training providers, employers and careers professionals to improve careers education. The new hub will work alongside Doncaster’s existing Careers Hub. Employers are being asked to get involved to give young people great experiences in workplaces.
Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis said: “The region’s new Careers Hub is crucial in helping to prepare and inspire young people for the fast-changing world of work. I’m determined that we support our young people and businesses through this incredibly challenging time, and the Careers Hub can give both the skills they need to thrive.
“This will help our effort to make South Yorkshire stronger and fairer as we build back better from COVID and is a step toward delivering our Renewal Action Plan, which will support over 55,000 training and job opportunities and create 3,000 apprenticeships.”
Careers Hubs are a central part of the government’s Careers Strategy, published in December 2017. A Careers Hub is a group of up to 55 secondary schools and colleges who work together to collaborate with business partners, the public, education and voluntary sectors. Mainstream and special schools will both be supported. Their aim is to improve careers outcomes for young people.
James Muir, Local Enterprise Partnership Chair, said: “The members of our Careers Hub will have a shared vision of how to work together to improve outcomes for the young people in their area.
“This is essential as we strive to drive economic growth, create new jobs and attract new investment from companies across the world. This work will secure our pipeline of local talent ready to take on the work demands of the future.”
Sue Frost, Enterprise Adviser who currently volunteers with schools in the Sheffield City Region, explained the benefits: “My aim is to set young people up for success in the workplace by creating a strong link between the skills and knowledge that employers want and the school curriculum.
“Contact with an employer has a powerful impact on young people, bringing the world of work to life, widening horizons and boosting aspirations. The new Careers Hub will give employers an unmissable opportunity to inspire others by sharing their invaluable knowledge and experience of the workplace.”
Businesses that are able to help or would like to share ideas can contact katy.pugh@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk
Find out more about careers hubs at sheffieldcityregion.org.uk/south-yorkshire-careers-hub/
