New Employability Charter launched

A new charter has been launched to improve the employability skills of young people and reduce skills shortages.

National Grid, Burgis and Bullock Chartered Accountants, Southam College and Stratford-upon-Avon College were the first organisations to commit to the charter when they met members of Warwickshire County Council.

The Warwickshire Employability Charter addresses the issue of work experience with companies confirming that they will work with schools to offer valuable placements, establishes links between businesses and schools to bridge the skills gap when young people enter the workplace, businesses having input into the curriculum and carrying out work exchanges with teaching staff whereby teachers work in businesses for short periods and staff from that business go into schools. 

Warwickshire County Council will also liaise closely between businesses and schools identifying skills shortages and keeping the business community informed on changes to training offered in schools and colleges.

Portfolio holder for education and learning, Cllr Colin Hayfield, said: “I’m delighted to sign these first charters. The council is investing £2.4 million over the next 3 years in its new Skills for Employment programme to enable business and education to work more closely together. The charter is a key part of that programme.”

Cllr June Tandy, leader of the Labour Group, said:  "It is a priority of the council to develop the work opportunities for our young people to make sure they are well-placed to enter the workplace.  This charter will join businesses and education together to make that happen."

At the recent skills conference for Warwickshire business and education leaders, delegates discussed the draft charter and shaped the final version. The vast majority of delegates said they would be committing to the charter as it provides a framework to develop new partnerships and activities.

Organisations that commit will be published on the WCC website which will enable businesses and education providers to identify potential partners to work with on employability initiatives such as work experience placements, visits to the workplace, and speakers visiting schools.

Business support for the charter includes Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses. Ian O’Donnell, Chairman of the Coventry & Warwickshire branch of FSB said:

“The charter will help small businesses find local schools they can work with to improve the work-readiness of pupils and to recruit leavers.’

The charter can be viewed here To commit to the charter please e-mail skillsforemployment@warwickshire.gov.uk stating your organisation’s commitment and how the name of the organisation should appear on the charter which will bear the signature of the leader of the council.  Personalised charters will then be e-mailed in digital format for organisations to download and print. 

Businesses and education providers in the county are currently working together on bids for between £20,000 and £40,000 grant funding from the council’s Skills for Employment programme. The deadline for submission of bids is noon 10 June 2015. 

For more information on the Employability Charter or the wider Skills for Employment programme, call 01926-418027 or e-mail: skillsforemployment@warwickshire.gov.uk