The Passport to Employment programme has been supporting young people across the Black Country to develop their careers knowledge and employability skills in key transformational sectors including Advanced Manufacturing, Building Technologies, Transport Technologies, Environmental Technologies and Business Services.

The programme has been recognised for connecting year 9 pupils and teachers with employers from these key sectors through a variety of activities and events held at both the school and employers. The project, which runs until September 2017, has to-date seen over 1700 year nine pupils benefit from the programme, 30 teachers undertake visits and over 60 employees from 35 different companies participate as volunteers, hosts or contributors to the session plans.

Led by the Black Country Skills Factory delivery partners include Education Business Partnerships from across the four boroughs; Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, Business in the Community and the National Careers Service, as well as businesses from across the Black Country. Working collaboratively these organisations have developed one day interactive sessions for year nine pupils and teachers from 16 schools in the Black Country which comprise of a ‘Skills Challenge’ and a ‘Getting a Job in the Sector’ activity.

Colin Parker, Skills Factory Director, Black Country LEP said: “It is fantastic that our Passport to Employment programme has been recognised as the best practice project in the region by The Careers & Enterprise Company. To-date an average of 76% pupils have stated the workshops have increased their confidence in their own skills, as well as their knowledge of the sector, with 94% of teachers believed the workshops are relevant for them, their institutions and their pupils.

“This national recognition is testament to the hugely effective collaborative approach taken by all our regional partners bringing together their individual expertise for the first time, delivering the very best service for pupils, teachers and business.”

Claudia Harris, Chief Executive of the Careers & Enterprise Company, said: “These awards are our small way of celebrating this growing national movement that is helping young people transition from education into employment. It was inspiring to see the impact of our Enterprise Advisers and how local careers and enterprise experts are forging strategic partnerships with employers to support thousands of young people into work.”