25 June 2020

Dorset scales-up Careers Hub to help transform careers education and support skills for COVID-19 recovery

Dorset scales-up Careers Hub to help transform careers education and support skills for COVID-19 recovery

Following on from its success as one of the country’s top performing Careers Hubs, the Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills has now announced funding for Dorset LEP for the extension and expansion of the Dorset Careers Hub.

Dorset Careers Hub will provide excellent careers support for young people in Dorset in order to assist in defining their pathway into employment.  

Bringing employers, schools and colleges together to transform careers education in the county, it has a relentless focus on best practice giving local schools and colleges access to support and funding for training and employer engagement activities.

Additional funding and resource will expand the work already started in the existing Careers Hub to support a wider range of schools to achieve national benchmarks.

Dorset Careers Hub was the first of its kind to be established in the region and already comprises 40 local schools and colleges working together with universities & colleges, training providers, career professionals and employers across Dorset. The 2019/20 pilot has enabled schools and colleges within the Careers Hub to make excellent progress against a set of eight benchmarks that schools can use as a framework for improving their Careers provision. 

The extension will see over 30 additional schools invited to join Dorset Careers Hub, including secondary schools, middle schools, FE colleges, special schools and learning centres. This means Dorset LEP, Dorset Council and BCP Council can collectively work with over 70 schools across Dorset more intensively.

Existing funding has also been ring-fenced for focused careers support in Weymouth and Portland as an area with poor social mobility.

Luke Rake, Chair of Dorset Careers Hub Steering Group and Principal of Kingston Maurward College said: “To receive confirmation of renewed funding for Dorset Careers Hub, in competitive times, is extremely encouraging. Studies have shown that good careers support, including employer interactions from a young age, help students from all backgrounds to better achieve their potential. We are ambitious, and I’m extremely happy to increase the work we do with schools, colleges, training providers and public sector bodies, to ensure every young person in Dorset has the best possible life chances.”

Jim Stewart, Chair of Dorset LEP said “This is a fantastic boost for Dorset’s careers support, enabling us to build on a very successful model in improving careers education across the region. Dorset LEP is committed to driving and championing all-important connections to the world of work and since the inception of the Dorset Careers Hub, schools and colleges are already outperforming the national averages for careers education. A key part of Careers Hubs are cornerstone employers and Dorset LEP is proud to be working with some of the county’s finest employers who are committed to underwriting careers provision in Dorset”

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Notes to editors:

Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership is a business led private and public sector partnership, promoting local economic growth and prosperity. Dorset LEP deliver projects that support and develop infrastructure, housing, skills, enterprise and business growth to achieve long-term economic benefit for all in Dorset. For more information visit the Dorset LEP website http://www.dorsetlep.co.uk/

 

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