Over 35 secondary schools, special schools, learning centres and colleges, plus 25 business volunteers have now signed up to Dorset’s new Enterprise Adviser Network (EAN), helping to improve the employability prospects of young people from across the county.
These were the figures announced by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) at the official launch event for the Dorset EAN.
Teachers, careers advisers, employers and local dignitaries gathered together at Kingston Maurward College to listen to Claudia Harris, CEO of the national Careers and Enterprise Company talk about their work across the UK and in Dorset. They also heard direct accounts from Enterprise Adviser Garry Turner and young entrepreneur Grace Lothian, a pupil at Poole High School.
The purpose of the EAN is to create powerful, lasting connections between local businesses and the schools and colleges in their area to equip young people with employability skills and help them to make informed choices about their career.
The Network is being rolled out by Dorset LEP on behalf of the Careers and Enterprise Company along with delivery partners Dorset County Council and Bournemouth & Poole Council’s joint 14-19 team.
Research released last week by the Careers and Enterprise Company in its State of the Nation report revealed that initiatives such as providing students with first-hand experience of the workplace is having a positive impact on improving career provision across the UK.
One of the Schools highlighted in the report was the Bourne Academy in Bournemouth, which in July 2017 achieved the Quality in Careers Standard full award for the success of its careers programme. The School has already signed up to the Dorset EAN and is also a recipient of the Dorset LEP Employability Charter Award.
Speaking at the event Claudia Harris said: “Good careers and enterprise provision matters because our young people deserve flourishing and fulfilled lives, using their skills and following their passions, and because there is a productivity gap within our economy that needs to be filled. We know that what works is encounters with employers, workplaces and further and higher education and information about local jobs, and we are pleased to already be seeing improvements from the Enterprise Adviser Network.”
Robert Dunford, Interim Director Dorset LEP, said: “Dorset LEP is committed to raising employment and skills levels in the county and enhancing health and wellbeing amongst its residents in order to increase productivity and economic prosperity for all. We are delighted to be launching our involvement in the national Enterprise Adviser Network with Careers and Enterprise Company and look forward to creating powerful, lasting connections between local businesses, schools and colleges.”
For further information about the Dorset EAN please visit http://dorsetlep.co.uk/governance/sub-groups/the-employment-and-skills-board/enterprise-adviser-network/
If you are keen to be involved and would like to find out more about the role of Enterprise Adviser please contact Katherine May, Dorset LEP on kmay@bournemouth.ac.uk
The Careers and Enterprise Company is the national network that connects schools and colleges, employers and career programme providers to create high-impact careers opportunities for young people.