- Dorset one of 20 new ‘Careers Hubs’ to lead excellence in careers support for young people
- Dorset Careers Hub awarded £150k pa (plus training bursaries)
- 40 local schools and colleges will form part of the Dorset Careers Hub
Dorset is to become one of 20 additional Careers Hubs across England following an announcement from the Secretary of State. Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership led the submission of Dorset’s successful bid to become a Careers Hub. The expansion of the Hub model follows news last year that careers support is improving across England.
The Dorset Careers Hub comprises 40 local schools and colleges working together with universities (Bournemouth University, Arts University Bournemouth, AECC University College and Southern Universities Network), training providers, career professionals and employers across Dorset. The Hub will be managed by a full time Hub lead based at Dorset LEP’s offices and will work with a team of enterprise coordinators. This includes a new dedicated ‘enterprise co-ordinator' for Weymouth and Portland (match funded by Dorset LEP) focussing on careers support for Dorset’s most deprived area. Working collaboratively, the Dorset Careers Hub’s primary aim will be to improve careers support for young people across Dorset, through a relentless focus on best practice.
The Dorset Careers Hub will give local schools and colleges access to:
- support and funding, including an expert ‘Hub Lead’ to help coordinate activity and build networks
- a central fund to support employer engagement activities including funds ring-fenced for Weymouth and Portland
- training for existing ‘careers leaders’ working in each Hub school and college
Employers are vital to the Hub model’s success, with all Hubs required to demonstrate strong engagement amongst local businesses and a clear plan for increasing employer engagement.
As well as support from the CBI, more than 100 ‘Cornerstone Employers’across the country have committed to driving and championing all-important connections to the world of work.
Dorset Careers Hub’s first ‘Cornerstone Employer’ is Wimborne-based Superior Seals. Expressions of interest are currently being sought for additional Cornerstone Employers to work with the Hub to underwrite careers provision in Dorset.
Local employers involved in Dorset Careers Hub will cover the whole of the region. Spearheaded by the Cornerstone Employers they will leverage their supply chains and networks to accelerate the work of the Hub.
Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) were invited to lead bids to establish Careers Hubs, with the applications judged on levels of need in an area and capacity to deliver. All bids were moderated by independent assessors.
The Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP, Secretary of State for Education, said:
“It is so important that young people get to know about a range of different jobs and careers so they can see the possible opportunities out there. Good careers education is such a valuable asset that helps children to explore future possibilities and go on to lead happy rewarding lives.
“Careers Hubs bring together schools, colleges, universities and employers to share their expertise and improve the careers education on offer to make sure young people have the information they need to make the most of their talents.
“Today’s investment will give thousands more young people access to expert careers support as they take those first exciting steps into their future.”
Jim Stewart, Chair of Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership said:
“We worked closely with stakeholders on this bid, including our delivery partners BCP Council and Dorset Council. Research shows that providing young people with gold standard careers advice and employer encounters helps them ‘touch their future’. The Dorset Careers Hub will fast-track this support to 40,000 young people.”
Martin McLeman, Head Teacher of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Wimborne said:
“We are delighted to be part of Dorset Careers Hub and look forward to Queen Elizabeth’s School supporting colleagues in its deployment. We value the input of employers in all aspects of education and the Careers Hub will deepen that engagement across Dorset.”
Ben Clarke, Quality Manager, Superior Seals, Wimborne said:
“We are delighted to become the first Cornerstone Employer for Dorset Careers Hub. We are looking forward to working with our local network and the wider business community to ensure that young people across Dorset have the opportunities they need to be prepared and inspired for the world of work.”
Claudia Harris, CEO of The Careers & Enterprise Company, said:
“Careers education is improving across the country. The accelerated progress we’re seeing in the first wave of Careers Hubs shows that this model is working and delivering for young people, with schools and colleges in this first wave of Careers Hubs already outperforming the national average across all aspects of careers education.
“We are delighted that the Government’s investment is supporting us to roll out this model to a quarter of schools and colleges in the country, helping more young people get the vital support and opportunities they need.”
