News Release

issued by Tom Bown (07825 215844)

For immediate release

Swindon & Wiltshire announced as ‘Careers Hub’ to helptransform careers education

Swindon & Wiltshire one of 20 areas across the country to receive boost in preparing young people for world of work

Swindon & Wiltshire is to become one of 20 ‘Careers Hubs’ around England to help transform careers education for young people.

The Swindon & WiltshireCareers Hub will be made up of 40 local schools and colleges working together with universities, training providers, employers and career professionals to improve careers education.

Careers Hubs are a central part of the Government’s Careers Strategy, published in December. The strategy aims to improve careers education and help prepare young people for the world of work.

The Government asked The Careers & Enterprise Company to scale up a model successfully piloted in the North East by establishing 20 Careers Hubs across the country, allocating £5 million over a two-year period to support the Hubs.

The Swindon & WiltshireCareers Hub will have access to support and funding to help them meet the eight Gatsby Benchmarks of excellent careers education. This includes:

  • A ‘Hub Lead’ to help coordinate activity and build networks
  • Access to bursaries for individual schools and colleges to train ‘careers leaders’
  • Central Hub Fund equivalent to around £1k per school or college
  • Access to funding for schools to support employer encounters

Amanda Burnside, board member of the Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership and chair of the Skills and Talent Sub-group, said:

“Enabling businesses to have an appropriately skilled and competitive workforce to support growth, innovation and creativity remains an investment priority for the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP). The Swindon & Wiltshire Careers Hub will build on the good work that is already happening between schools and employers such as The Enterprise Advisor Network, so that together we provide the workforce and skills needed now and in the future for strong economic growth.”

Claudia Harris, Chief Executive of The Careers & Enterprise Company, said:

"We're excited by the potential impact of the Hubs. If employers, schools and colleges can better prepare young people for the world of work, we're not just benefiting the future economy, but improving prospects for thousands of young people.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

A competitive and open bidding process was launched nationally in April, and the Hubs will launch in September. A total of 30 out of 39 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas applied to become Careers Hubs.

The Careers & Enterprise Company evaluated bids according to the level of need in an area, the wider benefit of the proposals to the area and the strength of leadership. All bids were moderated by independent assessors.

For media enquiries and interviews contact Tom Bown - SWLEP’s Marketing & Communications Manager;email: lephone: 07825 215 844.