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A celebration of careers guidance in the North East this National Careers Week

Michelle Rainbow, Skills Director at the North East LEP, shares her thoughts on the importance of quality careers education in schools and colleges – something the North East LEP has been championing in our region through North East Ambition.

Good careers guidance has the power to change lives. It transforms students’ futures, from better attainment in school to social mobility, with broader horizons and raised aspirations. It can help improve outcomes for all young people, regardless of their starting points or backgrounds.

As we mark the start of National Careers Week 2024, I am proud to reflect on, and celebrate, the amazing careers guidance work happening right across our region, and the important role it has in helping young people prepare for the world of work.

Often, it can be the case that the amount of hard work and effort our schools and colleges put in to prepare their young people through careers education, sadly goes unrecognised.

So, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the incredible skill and dedication of our careers leaders, as without them we would not have made such a vast amount of progress over recent years.

A Landscape of Impact

Today, North East Ambition (NEA) works with more than 190 secondary schools and colleges spanning the seven Local Authorities in the North East. These schools and colleges are achieving an average of 5.2 out of 8 Good Careers Guidance Benchmarks. Considering the Benchmarks only became part of statutory guidance in 2018, that is no mean feat!

In primary education, NEA works closely with 375 schools, pioneering a national pilot to embed careers-related learning, and build careers aspiration and inspiration from an early age.

Recognising the unique challenges faced by SEND students, we’re working with Careers Leads across our region’s SEND schools and together, have developed dedicated projects and resources, working to ensure more employers recognise the value SEND students can bring to their organisations.

When it comes to promoting technical education as a route into a rewarding career, we have led on regional activity to ensure students at school leaving age are informed about traineeships, apprenticeships, T-Levels, further/higher education, and other academic and vocational routes to employment.

For example, the North East is a national leader in the provision of T Levels, which offer a mix of classroom and on the job learning and are the equivalent to three A Levels.  We’ve seen a remarkable 577% growth in T Level learners since 2022 and a 467% increase in T Level industry placement providers across the LEP area. Our role in supporting schools to understand the local post-16 T Level offer is crucial, as is our collaboration with employers to highlight the benefits of offering T Level placements.

Pioneering Initiatives

Careers guidance doesn’t just happen in the classroom, and we are immensely proud of the work we have undertaken with regional partners to ensure that each and every young person can have access to information about the world of work and the opportunities that could be theirs.

Our Enterprise Advisor Network embeds business leaders into secondary schools and colleges to help shape the delivery of careers education and create invaluable connections between education and the business world. More than 200 business leaders are enrolled on the programme, representing a diverse range of industries key to the North East.

We were delighted to lead The Mentoring Project, which was launched last year to help young people involved with the Youth Justice Service (YJS) to raise their aspirations.

The pilot matched a group of YJS young people with employers to provide opportunities to learn about the type of skills and behaviours valued in the workplace and to introduce them to positive employer role models.

Our Teacher Encounters programme provides teachers, both current and trainees, with insights into the local labour market, which they can then use in the classroom to relate curriculum learning to careers.

We recently supported the Young Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network to train young apprentices to visit schools and colleges to share their stories and inspire the next generation with their firsthand experiences.

These initiatives and collaborations are transforming the career trajectories of young people throughout the North East.  Thanks to this work, our young people are now more aware of the career opportunities available across the region, the routes into them, and the skills and expertise employers need.

Going forward and with the continued hard work and dedication of partners and careers leaders, we envisage an even deeper focus on careers education in our region, continuing to build an environment where the understanding of career opportunity and development is seamlessly integrated into the educational fabric. We have already achieved so much and now is the time to continue our important work and ensure all learners can reach their potential.

National Careers Week is a fantastic opportunity to share some of the amazing work taking place across the North East LEP region to educate and inform young people about the career opportunities available to them.  Each day we’ll highlight some of the programmes and initiatives led by the North East LEP, and those by our partners in education and industry, that are helping young people make more informed choices about their future.

Join the conversation on social media using #NCW2021 and visit www.nationalcareersweek.com to discover more.

For more information about North East Ambition, visit www.northeastambition.co.uk

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Mentoring project tackles barriers to youth employment

A ground-breaking initiative aimed at shaping brighter futures for young people in South Tyneside has boosted skills and reshaped employer perspectives.

The Mentoring Project was launched to help young people involved with the Youth Justice Service (YJS) to raise their aspirations.

The pilot, led by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), matched a group of YJS young people with six employers to provide opportunities to learn about the type of skills and behaviours valued in the workplace and to introduce them to positive employer role models.

The initiative not only refined the mentoring skills of the employers involved but has also provided a deeper understanding of the challenges confronting YJS young people.

An independent review of the pilot has reported benefits for both mentees and mentors, showcasing the project’s significant impact.

According to the review, the Mentoring Project provided mentees, often experiencing their first exposure to work, with practical insights into specific career paths and educational trajectories.

As for the businesses involved, the mentors reported satisfaction in giving back to their communities and broadening their perspectives and skills. They also developed a better understanding of young people’s experience in the context of Youth Justice and thereby broke down some of the barriers around potential stereotypes of young people in contact with YJS.

One of the mentors involved in the pilot, Steve Cumpson Systems Application and Products Basis Manager at Newcastle University IT Service, said: “I had never done anything like this before but the key for me was thinking what if I could even help one person by a small amount, that would be fantastic. I had no expectations going in on whether it would be successful, but this has been one of the best experiences of my life.

“It has just sparked something within me, and it has seemed to work well for me and for my mentee. The feedback has been amazing and quite humbling, and the impact also on my mentee has been special to see. The benefits have been massive and have impacted every part of my life. There is not a single doubt in my mind that I want to continue in this area.”

Other companies involved in the mentoring were Keepmoat, Komatsu, Wates, Goldfinch Estate Agents, and the Port of Tyne.

As a result of the pilot, South Tyneside Council has officially incorporated mentoring into its Business Pledge, offering every business signing up the chance to contribute to this impactful initiative.

A special event was held at South Shields Town Hall to celebrate the success of the pilot project.

Councillor Jane Carter, Lead Member for Education and Skills, said: “This inspirational scheme has absolutely been a win-win for both our young people and employers.

“It has shown just how great an impact can be made when employers are willing to give their time and experience and young people are prepared to learn. By breaking down barriers, this project has helped these young people look forward to a much more positive future.”

Developed by the North East LEP in partnership with South Tyneside Council’s YJS team and with funding by the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC), the Mentoring Project saw local employers work intensively with the young people over a year.

Michelle Rainbow, Skills Director for the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We are delighted to have supported The Mentoring Project, which bridged the gap that young people in contact with Youth Justice Service experience when exploring future career pathways.

“The work done so far has begun to dismantle the barriers between YJS young people and employers, contributing to destigmatising this group by fostering greater understanding of their histories and circumstances.”

Ian Buckingham, Strategic Consulting Partner at Mosaic Partners, who delivered part of the training in the project, said: “We have been able to cultivate some exceptional, values-driven mentors from several working generations; develop a toolkit and upskilling approach that now serves as a model for future projects and, most importantly, there have been some excellent early wins and outcomes for several of the participants to help them re-connect with their potential and the wider world of work.”

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International delegation visits North East England to see positive impact of Gatsby Benchmarks on careers education

A group of international careers leaders from Hong Kong have visited North East England to see how the good career guidance benchmarks have been successfully embedded within the region, and how they are improving outcomes for young people across the North East.

Organised by The Gatsby Foundation in partnership with the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP), the visit saw career leaders, school principals and education experts from Hong Kong spend one week visiting schools and employers across the North East to see the good career guidance benchmarks in action.

Developed by The Gatsby Foundation, the good career guidance benchmarks are a set of eight benchmarks that serve as a framework for world-class careers provision. The North East region hosted the original Gatsby Benchmarks pilot between 2015 and 2017. In 2017, the Benchmarks were adopted as part of the government’s Careers Strategy for schools and colleges in England.

The recent visit from the Hong Kong delegation follows the implementation of an adapted set of 10 benchmarks. In Hong Kong, an initial pilot involving six schools has now expanded to 110 schools; approximately 25% of all schools in Hong Kong.

The group of careers leaders were invited by The Gatsby Foundation to see how deep rooted and embedded the Benchmarks are in the North East, and the positive impact this is having on the aspirations and career outcomes of the region’s students.

The visit will also form part of an international case study that will support Gatsby’s work on their ‘Good Career Guidance: The Next Ten Years’ report.

Ryan Gibson, Senior Adviser for Careers at The Gatsby Foundation and former National Facilitator of the Gatsby Pilot in the North East said “It was a pleasure to welcome career leaders, school principals and education experts from Hong Kong to England to learn from the excellent practice in our schools and colleges.

“The Benchmarks are based on international evidence of what works, and they represent a world class standard of careers provision. We are delighted to now be inspiring approaches in other countries.”

L-R Ryan Gibson, Senior Adviser for Careers at The Gatsby Foundation and Stephen Yip, Director (Schools) for the Hong Kong Benchmarks programme

Matt Joyce, Regional Lead: North East Ambition at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Having delivered the original pilot, and now in our role supporting all schools and colleges in the region to achieve the good career guidance benchmarks, the North East LEP is in a unique position to show others how successful the Benchmarks can be in creating an institution-wide approach to delivering high quality careers education and guidance.

“As well as showcasing the great work happening in schools and colleges here in the North East, it’s been fantastic to learn from our international colleagues about the work they are doing in Hong Kong.

“A really important part of this visit has been demonstrating how the good career guidance benchmarks fit with the wider skills agenda; supporting students to be work ready and delivering the talent and skills employers need.

“It’s been a pleasure to host the delegation and show them the transformational impact of the good career guidance benchmarks.”

Stephen Yip, Director (Schools) for the Hong Kong Benchmarks programme said “This visit brings the next generation of career leaders to North East England to learn new ideas, strategies and the effective whole institution approach needed to effectively achieve the good career guidance benchmarks.

“Schools and colleges in North East England have taken a remarkable step up across all benchmark areas over the last three years. Such a leap is achieved because of both frontline practices and the overall infrastructure provided by the North East LEP careers hub; to ensure youngsters in the region receive the best careers education for future paths.

“We are all inspired by the best practices demonstrated by the visited schools and will implement them to our contexts with little hesitation. Perhaps the most impressive part of the journey is the confidence and the sense of agency shown by the students upon their career-related future. This is indeed the power of The Gatsby Benchmarks.”

Joanne Maw, CEO of Aspire North East Multi Academy Trust, said: “It was a privilege to welcome the careers professionals and school leaders from Hong Kong to Southmoor Academy and have the opportunity to share our whole school approach to careers education.

“Staff benefitted greatly from the opportunity to showcase their work and answer a range of thought-provoking questions. It was inspiring to meet such a dedicated team of leaders who are deeply committed to a holistic approach to student progression.”

To illustrate the importance of employee engagement in delivering the Benchmarks, the North East LEP arranged a visit to international energy company, Equinor, which has a base at the Port of Tyne in South Tyneside.

Tom Nightingale. North East Stakeholder Manager at Equinor, said: “It was fantastic to support the North East LEP and host the delegation from Hong Kong at Dogger Bank Wind Farm operations and maintenance base. Sharing knowledge around skills initiatives with other countries is essential to develop knowledge around areas such as Gatsby Benchmarks, where the region is already leading in delivery.”

Matt Joyce continued: “During the visit we were able to demonstrate the impact of the Benchmarks and the crucial role of career hubs in supporting schools and colleges to create world-class careers provision.

“The delegation has left with an understanding of the importance of positioning careers not only as part of education, but as a lever for economic growth.”

Through its North East Ambition programme, the North East LEP is supporting all North East schools and colleges to achieve the good career guidance benchmarks by 2024.

For more information about the good career guidance benchmarks, visit www.northeastambition.co.uk.

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Your opportunity to shape careers education for students in the North East

By Denis Heaney, Enterprise Adviser Hub Lead at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership


It is quite common to hear employers expressing concerns that young people joining the workforce don’t have the skills businesses require, and recognise a disconnect between the skills they acquire through school, college and universities, and those needed by the world of work.

Thankfully, things are changing. There are more opportunities for industry to work in partnership with academia to influence curriculum development, provide workplace experiences, and educate young people about the careers opportunities available to them.

One of the most successful approaches has been the creation of the Enterprise Adviser Network; a group of passionate and dedicated business leaders that work with schools and colleges to bridge the gap between education and employment, and work with teachers and young people to deliver quality careers education.

Here in the North East, we currently have 191 business leaders in our Enterprise Adviser Network, but we’re looking to boost that number and partner more industry professionals with local schools and colleges.

One of the most common questions I get from businesses when speaking to them about joining the Enterprise Adviser Network is, ‘how much of my time will it take?’ Well the good news is, no matter how much, or how little, time you have available, we can make it meaningful. I think employers often underestimate the positive influence they can make by engaging with education. It doesn’t matter if it’s 1% of your time or 100%, the support we offer ensures your time is impactful.

Being an Enterprise Adviser is about bringing like-minded people together to make a difference in education. And how people choose to do that can be very different.

We’ve had Enterprise Advisers join the Board of Governors to influence at a strategic level, and we’ve also supported Enterprise Advisers to consult on careers programmes in schools. Some Enterprise Advisers have provided a mentoring role to teachers and students, whilst others have helped deliver curriculum-based projects. Whilst the pathways have all been very different, the end result is always the same; better careers education for students, which leads to better outcomes. 

An increasingly popular area of support is improving teachers’ understanding of industry by providing time in the workplace. Teachers – along with parents/guardians – are the biggest influencers when it comes to careers guidance. By helping teachers better understand the local economy, they are more equipped to connect learning to the world of work.

Our job at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership is to ensure the engagement businesses have with schools and colleges is as much about meeting business needs, as it is improving career outcomes for students. Employers have the opportunity to influence what teaching looks like, and how the curriculum can deliver the talent and skills they need to fill the jobs of the future.

I very much see the Enterprise Adviser Network as the vehicle for industry to engage with education.

If you or your business would like to find out more about joining the Enterprise Adviser Network and inspiring the next generation about the amazing career opportunities the North East, we’d love to hear from you. You can complete an Expression of Interest via our website – www.northeastambition.co.uk – or email [email protected].

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Career pathways for shortage roles

A new resource to boost skills in the region’s health and life sciences sector


Health and Life Sciences – Career pathways for shortage roles is a new resource designed to help:

  • Businesses working in the region’s health and life sciences sector address skills shortages for key roles
  • Education and training providers develop industry relevant curriculum
  • The wider industry grow and thrive in the North East.

It has been developed in response to the publication of the North East Health, Life Sciences and Medicines Manufacturing Strategy, which aims to double the number of jobs and businesses in the health and life sciences sector by 2030.


What is Health and Life Sciences – Career pathways for shortage roles?

A free online resource for businesses working in the North East’s health and life sciences sector, Health and Life Sciences – Career pathways for shortage roles outlines the basic and essential skills needed for six key roles where a shortage of appropriately skilled candidates has been identified. The six key roles are:

  • Analytical Chemist
  • Process Engineer
  • Software Engineer
  • Quality Assurance Manager
  • Lab Technician
  • Project Manager.

What help and support can businesses access?

Employers can see the education and training routes available in the region to allow them to grow talent into the six specific roles, including:

Education and training

  • Apprenticeships
  • T Levels
  • Further education.

Uptake of apprenticeships and other vocational qualifications is very low in the health and life sciences sector.

The resource uses existing good practice and occupational maps from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) to identify better ways to utilise apprenticeship funding and advancements in technical education to develop talent into the six key shortage roles.

Education contacts and courses

Businesses can access information on local education contacts as well as training and courses relevant to each role.

Case studies

Employers can also read case studies about local employers who have successfully adopted the education and training routes outlined in the resource to increase workforce development.


What support is available for education and training providers?

Insight to develop an industry relevant curriculum

In addition to supporting employers in the region with recruitment challenges, the new resource also provides information on skills shortages in the sector, which education and training providers can use to inform the development of an industry relevant curriculum and inform young people about career pathways into in the sector.


How do I access the resources?

Visit the Health and Life Sciences – Career pathways for shortage roles resource.

Visit the North East Health and Life Sciences Sector Careers Toolkit.

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Finding the right path after results day

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP) has worked with schools and colleges to provide guidance for students and their parents, as they navigate the range of post-16 and post-18 options available to them.

As thousands of students receive their exam results, Matt Joyce from the North East LEP explains what support is available.

The North East LEP has always worked really closely with schools and colleges to help make sure that each and every young person in our region has the opportunity to be successful in whatever career they choose. And an important part of this is helping people to understand all the options that are open to them when they move on from school or college.

As we’re heading towards exam results days, we know that lots of young people and their parents will be feeling the pressure to make the right decision about what they do next. So we wanted to provide a simple guide to all the pathways which young people can take, from A levels to apprenticeships and from T Levels to traineeships.

On our North East Ambition website (www.NorthEastAmbition.co.uk), people can watch a short film which tells young people about their options. So anyone who’s unsure about their next steps can watch the video and get a simple comparison of the different pathways – including apprenticeships, traineeships, a range of vocational and technical qualifications, and, depending on their age and previous qualifications, higher education.

We know that parents often have a huge influence on their children’s future plans and that there’s been significant change in the education landscape in recent years, so these resources have been designed to update and help inform decision-making at what can be a stressful time.

There is information on A levels and T levels, as well as other vocational and technical options, and apprenticeships, which can now be taken up to degree level. 

North East Ambition doesn’t replace the advice young people get at school or college, but it complements it, giving easy-to-digest information that families can look at together.

We also have a film created specifically for SEND students and their parents – again, this can be found on the North East Ambition site – and both videos provide links to the National Careers Service, where people can go for more in-depth information and support once they have an idea of the range of options there are.

Most importantly, I want people to know there is support out there.

If you don’t know what path to take, or if things haven’t worked out as you’d hoped, don’t panic. Make sure you ask for advice and speak to someone to talk through your options, whether that’s someone at your school or college, someone within your local authority, or the National Careers Service.

Young people have come through such a difficult time over the past two years and the world looks very different after the pandemic. That’s why we’re doubling down on our work to support schools and colleges, and help each and every young person gain the skills they need for their next steps in life.

Visit NorthEastAmbition.co.uk/options to see information on post-16 and post-18 pathways.

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Raising skills levels in the North East while navigating national change

How will the government review of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) affect the work going on to improve skills in the North East? Michelle Rainbow, Skills Director at the North East LEP, gives an update.

In February of this year, the government published its Levelling Up white paper which not only set out proposals to spread opportunity more equally throughout the UK, but also reviewed and clarified the role that LEPs will play going forward.

This review recognised the valuable role LEPs play in supporting local economic growth and it confirmed that one of our core aims as a LEP will still be to ensure North East residents of all ages have the opportunity to develop skills that match the opportunities in the labour market.

The North East LEP and its skills programme is very much aligned with the government’s vision and confirmation of this has been useful and positive.

As a result, many things about the way we work will stay the same following the review. We will still be facilitating partnerships between business and education. We will still be working to make sure that each and every young person in our region can access the world of work when they leave education. And we will still be working with businesses to help them become more successful by upskilling their teams and creating links with the next generation. 

In terms of change, there is more for us to do in terms of supporting individual businesses and sectors in our region to overcome their particular challenges. We’ll be working closely with our business growth colleagues who are speaking to companies day in and day out, to find out what the issues are which are preventing them from growing and scaling and to provide a solution or support where we can, such as guiding people through the options for recruiting apprentices, or helping businesses to get involved with shaping the region’s new technical education offer.

We’ll also be looking at challenges businesses face in a range of sectors, like social care, which are big employers in our region but which fall outside the six sectors which have been identified in the North East Strategic Economic Plan as key areas of growth and opportunity (these are advanced manufacturing, digital, energy, and health and life sciences). After all, having an appropriately-skilled and qualified population is good for businesses in every industry.

So while we will be aligning everything we do with government priorities, the needs of people, education providers and businesses in our particular geography will always be our focus.

And while change can be difficult to navigate – and we’ve definitely been through a lot of change recently – taking a long term view can help. This applies to us at the North East LEP and it applies to businesses too. If you see skills as something which can help you secure the future of your business in the long term, and you can spend some time now on training, apprenticeships and T-Level placements, you’ll be in a better position to navigate change in the future. And we can help you do that.

Skills was a priority for us before the government review and it’s still a priority now. We want all businesses in the North East to be able to get the skills support they need, so if there’s a challenge you are facing then please do let us know.

Visit NorthEastLep.co.uk to find out about the North East LEP’s skills programmes, and visit NorthEastGrowthHub.co.uk to access business support.

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Young trainees share their experiences of gaining conservation, woodland and land management skills

Young people who took part in six-month traineeships in Northumberland have shared their experiences of gaining skills in conservation, land management and woodland maintenance.

The trainees took part in Groundwork North East’s Green Futures programme, which was part-funded by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)’s Local Growth Fund VCSE Capital Grant programme, which aims to help communities across the North East recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Overall, more than 50 young people aged between 16 and 24 have taken part in training and volunteering, gaining skills that will set them up for future careers in the ‘green economy’. Five of the young people completed six-month paid Kickstart traineeships, working at two sites: Pegswood Moor Country Park and Pegswood Community Woods, near Morpeth, Northumberland.

Here, they share their experiences of the Kickstart placements:

What made you decide to apply for a Kickstart traineeship at Groundwork North East in Northumberland?

Ethan M: “I was unemployed after my A levels and I started volunteering at Groundwork NE as I am interested in conservation and wildlife. So I applied for the Kickstart job.”

Will: “I liked the idea of helping wildlife and being outdoors, I had worked in a primary school as a lunchtime assistant for two hours a day, this involved serving food, supervising the children and writing up first aid incidents. Before that I was at college doing art, design and animation and then I decided I wanted to get into more physical outdoor work.”

What has been your favourite aspect of the programme?

Dale: “For me, the opportunity to get qualifications in tree surgery and related land qualifications. I don’t think I could have got them otherwise as I have been trying for seven years. But between living, rent and food there wasn’t enough…I have really enjoyed being part of the Kickstart Team working alongside other young people at Groundwork in Northumberland. I’ve learned about conservation, protecting wildlife and also gained some really valuable qualifications including tree surgery.”

Ethan M: “I enjoy working with the team – I had only worked in a team in college so now I am more familiar being in a team in a workplace. Everything you do carries everyone in the team so it’s important that no-one is doing less than anyone else.”

What have you learned through the Green Futures Kickstart programme about sustainable practices which protect the environment?

Ethan M: “We learned about the biology of the trees in Pegswood Country Park which used to be an open cast mine. There has been a lot of storm damage, due to the poor, shallow soil, it is not enough for the roots to grow deeply. We planted thousands of wildflowers in the meadow plantation and we have also done crown lifting of trees to improve light and sightlines which helps deter anti-social behaviour. We have removed blackthorn – they are invasive as they will grow through paths so they need cleared.”

Will: “We have learned all about pruning and lopping techniques, how to saw and what to prune or not prune so that trees don’t get diseased. We have been doing crown lifting to allow more sunlight to come in and let the smaller trees grow better and to allow clearer pathways so everything is not packed together.”

What has it been like being part of a team of Kickstarters?

Ethan M: “This was my first time in a working environment, it’s been a great experience and especially useful for me to work in a team on a regular basis.”

Will: “It was good to get an idea of what it is like in a work environment and working with different people, I have not really experienced that. At Groundwork we have worked with people doing different jobs so this has included working in the country park and with local community groups who partner with Groundwork.”

Can you talk about the individual projects you have worked on and give some examples of the practical skills you have achieved?

Curzon: “I used oak to make a rustic bench as a feature in the park, it would have cost a fortune to buy it and we used wood that would otherwise have rotted. Working with the Ashington Woods Community Group, one of the Friends, Dennis, has an Alaskan style saw mill which we learned how to use…It took a lot of force to push it and I learned how to keep it straight and keep the chainsaw steady. These skills have been great to learn.”

Will and Ethan: “We are going to make more benches as when Groundwork have talked to local people, it is important for them to have spaces to have a rest. We are going to find out where they would like these in the park and then make and install these as part of our project. It will form an accessible route around the park.”

What has it been like working with Groundwork North East staff?

Will: “I’ve become much more familiar with daily tasks, knowing what to do with each task so I can be more independent when getting ready to work on jobs around the park. Doing things more independently is a good feeling and it makes me feel confident about my job.”

Have you enjoyed getting involved in sessions with volunteers and the wider community?

Ethan M: “We worked with volunteers at the pit heap, the community woods volunteers and school children who volunteer form a local school regularly. It was sad after Storm Arwen as the Friends of Pegswood Woods were devastated that there were hundreds of wind blow trees. One of the volunteers, Jean, was in tears.”

Dale: “We worked with Barry, the Tree Officer for Northumberland County Council and Groundwork NE, to help clear the area.”

Do you think your job and employment prospects have improved as a result of your training at Groundwork NE and the Green Futures programme?

Dale: “Gaining qualifications for my CV and having a good job will really help. I have talked to some local employers, it makes it more enticing to hire you. The companies have some commercial projects coming up so they will contact me when spaces become available and I am also looking for jobs. I’d be really happy if I don’t have to move away.”

What advice would you give other young people seeking opportunities?

Dale: “Even if it’s not a job you might be interested in give it a shot.”

Ethan M: “Volunteering paved the way absolutely for me at Pegswood Country Park, it definitely helped me to get onto this programme. I would say keep looking for opportunities and don’t give up.”

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An outstanding college business partnership in Ashington

When a college and local business share a common goal, they can build a special working relationship that achieves exceptional results. The close partnership between AkzoNobel and Northumberland College has developed a whole-college approach to high quality careers guidance and a successful pathway into local employment.

A global manufacturer of paints and coatings, AkzoNobel opened a new factory in Ashington five years ago. Despite its international profile, the company recognised its responsibility to tackle the local challenge of long-term high unemployment in rural Northumberland. It identified a strategic objective to enhance careers education and ensure a future local workforce.

The North East LEP played a key role in establishing and cultivating the partnership between AkzoNobel and Northumberland College. Enterprise Co-ordinator Lucy Johnson laid the groundwork with an understanding of the needs and ambitions of both organisations. This ensured a positive and sustained match. The LEP facilitated discussions, fostering a mutual understanding of each other’s agendas, terminology and organisational structures. All sides recognised the immense benefits of a whole-college approach, with the full support of Vice Principal Vikkie Morton and with AkzoNobel joining the board of governors.

This unique partnership gave Director of Student Services Ruth Magnus and AkzoNobel Enterprise Adviser Alex Wardle the autonomy and scope to deliver an ambitious strategic careers plan. Ruth introduced Alex to the college’s relevant curriculum departments and student communities. A whole-college approach, says Ruth, provides learners with the best guidance and employer encounters, “from their first course of study through to their next steps into employment, apprenticeships or higher education.”

Working closely with Curriculum Director Robert Stewart, they identified areas where AkzoNobel could make positive interventions. For example, AkzoNobel used its industry knowledge, technical expertise and focus on lean techniques to introduce practical problem solving methodologies and theories on personality types into pastoral lessons.

Alex is an enthusiastic and engaged Enterprise Adviser who has devoted time to thoroughly understand how the college works. This dedication has given AkzoNobel insight into how they can best add value in preparing students for the world of work. “The right frame of mind is key”, says Alex. Students need to be encouraged to start thinking early about their career progression and to understand the behaviours and attributes employers are looking for.

The college is piloting a Reward and Recognition Scheme to emphasise employability skills. Over the year, AkzoNobel will run three masterclasses for Engineering and Construction students. The college will award students with a certificate based on their attendance and progression, as well as volunteering in the community. This certificate will be recognised by AkzoNobel and guarantee them an interview, demonstrating their readiness for the world of work.

Alex expects this scheme to expand into other curriculum areas, and Ruth would like to see it replicated across the Education Partnership North East, building similar relationships between Sunderland College and Hartlepool Sixth Form and local employers.

AkzoNobel also supports the college with workshops, one-to-one sessions and mock interviews, as well as site visits and work experience placements. Last month, Northumberland College held a successful career fair for National Careers Week, where students learned more about opportunities with AkzoNobel and other local employers.

Alex is a driving force in the expanding and deepening cooperation between the college and local business. She has been instrumental in bringing more employers and colleges together through her work with the Enterprise Adviser Network. By working collaboratively across colleges, this group of advisers has been able to share and promote best practice.

AkzoNobel now has former college students working at its Ashington site and sees more leavers applying. The partnership also contributes to job satisfaction and wellbeing at AkzoNobel. “Going into college and delivering a masterclass is not part of the normal job,” explains Alex, but it has led to greater engagement in the team. For example, when a new operator came for an interview, he remembered the site manager from a college visit. “It’s lovely for the employees to know they can have an impact, even if it is a couple of years down the line.”

Ruth reports significant improvement in soft skills at the college, including attendance. In addition, students have a more positive attitude on campus and are more engaged with their studies. This strong performance has followed through into work experience, with fewer placements breaking down due to attendance or attitude. Employer feedback also shows greater satisfaction with students.

“Education feeds industry”, says Alex, and “it’s absolutely the right thing for business to support the college and in the past, we have let that relationship drift apart.” Ruth agrees: “Our courses need scrutiny from business to keep them relevant and up-to-date.” This engagement is essential to ensure students have the values and skills for a successful career. “It is necessary,” says Alex, “if businesses want to be sustainable, with a future ready workforce. It is the only answer.”

Find our more about the North East LEP’s Enterprise Adviser Network, and how your business can support careers education in the region.