Northumberland school benefits from Enterprise Adviser scheme

The latest person to join the region’s new network of Enterprise Advisers, working to help guide the careers and futures of young people in the North East, is Rob Storey, Group Skills & Education Manager at North Tyneside-based Advanced Industrial Solutions (AIS).

Rob joins a growing team of leaders in North East business who are volunteering their time to work with schools in the region, strengthening the link between education and industry.

“I’m proud to say I started my role supporting King Edward VI School in Morpeth earlier this year,” said Rob, who will be working in partnership with the school’s senior management team.

“I’ve attended careers events there previously so I know a lot about the importance the school puts upon good careers advice and strong industry interaction for its pupils.”

In his role at AIS, Rob has a number of strategic responsibilities, one key area being strong partnering with schools, colleges and universities. The company, which delivers award-winning solutions to the oil and gas, wind energy and industrial sectors, has sites in Aberdeen, Grimsby and West Yorkshire, and has a state-of-the-art headquarters, manufacturing facility and training complex in North Shields.

Since being appointed as an Enterprise Adviser, Rob has met with staff at King Edward VI school to build an understanding of how he and the school can work together to provide effective careers guidance to pupils, using Rob’s years of industry expertise to help embed employer engagement into the curriculum.

“Being an Enterprise Advisor provides a great way for AIS to focus its significant contribution into careers activities, helping the school and employers collaborate. The scheme will benefit the energy sector and its various industries, recruiting good people into meaningful careers,” explained Rob.

“We all rely upon energy, and will continue to do so. It’s young people with fresh ideas who will play an ever increasing role in realising the different mix of energy the UK and beyond will rely upon as current resources become scarcer.”

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is expanding its team of Enterprise Advisers, appointing more people to partner with secondary schools in their area.

Rob said: “It’s no secret that school staff face many challenges upon their time and I firmly believe, as does AIS, that employers have a duty to help and support schools and the wider community with careers advice and the Enterprise Adviser role offers a great chance to make a real difference and add significant value.”

“I’ve been an advocate of partnerships for many years and still firmly believe effective collaboration is the only way to succeed.”

Secondary schools across the North East have already signed up to the Enterprise Adviser scheme, keen to work in partnership with business people to make sure that their students can benefit from a close link between the school and local industry.

To find out how to become an Enterprise Adviser, contact Lindsay Peek – [email protected], 07824 528 484.