Independent evaluation praises positive support for young people.
Over 2600 year 9 pupils and over 50 teachers from 16 Black Country senior schools have completed the Black Country Passport to Employment Programme engaging with over 90 employees from 38 companies. Hailed a success in an independent report by Treevan Consulting Network, the Passport to Employment was a collaborative project led by the Black Country Skills Factory and funded by The Careers & Enterprise Company.
Led by the Black Country Skills Factory delivery partners include Education Business Partnerships from across the four boroughs; Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Business in the Community, as well as businesses from across the Black Country.
The evaluation report highlights the positive ways in which the Passport to Employment has supported young people from 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 Service with 62% of pupils wanting to know more about careers in these sectors.
In addition to the pupils engaging in the project, from December 2016 to July 2017 over fifty teachers have participated reporting that they feel better equipped to advise pupils on the skills and roles in these sectors. Over 90 employees from 38 different companies have participated, volunteering their time, to ensure their industries are future proofed by ensuring the schools focus on the right skills for a range of careers.
Colin Parker, Skills Factory Director, Black Country LEP said: “Our Passport to Employment programme has proven to make a real impact with the Year 9 pupils at a time when they are making subject selection decisions. The knowledge and understanding of the future key job sectors in the area is vital knowledge both for them and their teachers in helping them to make informed decisions.
“This programme has delivered above our expectations and the impact as identified in the evaluation report highlight both importance and benefits of schools and business working together in careers and enterprise education but also that our programme in the Black Country provides a blueprint for this kind of careers education nationwide.”
Natalie Cramp, Chief Operating Officer of the Careers & Enterprise Company, added: “The Careers & Enterprise Company have been delighted to support the Passport to Employment programme. It is an inspirational offer targeted specifically at the Black Country and delivered by a fantastic partnership of local and national providers supported by strong support from local employers. We are delighted to see such real impact improving the knowledge and perceptions of pupils and teachers.”
For further information on the Passport to Employment click here: the full evaluation report is available online to download.
For more information on the awards and The Careers & Enterprise Company’s Annual Conference visit the website.
