Liverpool City Region awarded funding to extend Careers Hub to help transform careers education

Posted 20th May 2019
 
 
7 minutes read
 
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120 schools and colleges will now be part of the Liverpool City Region Careers Hub

Following an announcement from the Secretary of State, the Liverpool City Region Careers Hub will be expanding, following the launch last year, to help schools to meet the eight Gatsby Benchmarks* of careers education.

The Liverpool City Region Careers Hub will now be made up of 120 local schools and colleges working together with universities, training providers, employers and career professionals to improve careers support for young people in their areas, through a focus on best practice and meaningful employer encounters.

Schools and colleges will have 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, and training for a ‘Careers Leader’ in each school and college.

Asif Hamid MBE, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) said:

“I am absolutely delighted that Liverpool City Region has been awarded further funding to expand our already successful Careers Hub. This expansion will mean more young people across our city region will have more opportunities to connect with potential future employers.

“By building on the work we are already doing we are ensuing there is greater consistency and depth in the quality of careers education and guidance in our schools. Importantly this means we will be able to give our young people better access to the world of work through interventions such as work experience and connecting schools and colleges with employers and careers programme providers.”

Careers Hubs have been set up with funding from The Careers and Enterprise Company to inspire and prepare young people for the fast-changing world of work and is a central part of the governments Careers Strategy to help transform careers education.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“This expansion builds on the success of the Liverpool Careers Hub, meaning we can support more young people in reaching their full potential. Whether they are looking into work experience, moving onto an apprenticeship or training and educational options, we are giving them crucial information with which to make positive decisions about their future.”Ian Raikes, Headteacher, Greenbank High School, Sefton said:

Ian Raikes, Headteacher, Greenbank High School, Sefton said:

“Schools in the City Region have already experienced a positive impact as a result of the work of with the existing Careers Hub. As Headteacher of the Lead School, I am delighted that this new investment provides more schools and more pupils with the opportunity to benefit from improved careers education which inspires and prepares our young people for the fast-changing world of work.”

Nik Ellis, Director, Revolution Four, said:

“As Lead Employer, Revolution Four is delighted to see the opportunities created by the LCR Careers Hub becoming available to more schools across the Liverpool City Region. Revolution Four has worked closely with its partner school and has supported Hub schools across the region to boost careers education for our young people.”

The announcement today is for a second wave of 18 new and two expanded Careers Hubs, backed by a further £2.5m investment. Just over 1,300 secondary schools and colleges will now benefit from being part of a Careers Hub.

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.”

Claudia Harris, CEO of The Careers & Enterprise Company, said:

“Careers education is improving across the country. The accelerated progress we’re seeing in Liverpool 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.”

Career Hubs are managed by the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.