Careers Hubs in focus at economic conference

"The County Council is proud to support the new Careers Hub which will be working closely with our existing Skills for Employment programme."

Coventry and Warwickshire businesses will be given an insight into the role they can play in improving careers advice and support for the future workforce at a major conference this year. 

The Coventry and Warwickshire Careers Hubs is a supporting sponsor for the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Economic Conference at DoubleTree by Hilton Coventry on Friday, November 15. 

The Coventry and Warwickshire Careers Hubs, launched in May, will give every school and college in the area the opportunity to work together with universities, training providers, employers and career professionals. Each Hub brings together a group of up to 40 schools and colleges to improve careers support for young people in their area, through a relentless focus on best practice.

The Warwickshire Careers Hub will also play a key role in enabling Warwickshire County Council to implement its new all-age careers strategy. The strategy aims to support a range of high-priority residents, including young people in education, older workers and the most vulnerable, such as learners with special educational needs or disabilities, or those with mental health conditions.

Speaking at the conference will be Monica Fogarty, Warwickshire County Council's chief executive.

Monica said: “The County Council is proud to support the new Careers Hub which will be working closely with our existing Skills for Employment programme. For example, we are already collaborating on My World of Work which will provide opportunities for several hundred pupils to take part in activities across ten sectors early in 2020. Working together in this way, we believe we will provide a higher level of support for Warwickshire schools and colleges than is available in any other local authority area."

Clare Hutchinson, director of Network at the Careers and Enterprise Company, which is behind the Careers Hubs across the country, will also speak at the event and urge businesses to find out the role they can play in improving young people’s understanding and knowledge of the world of work.

The Hubs in Coventry and Warwickshire were bid for by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP)

Louise Bennett, Chief Executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “One of the biggest barriers to economic growth over recent years has been a shortage of skills and, in some cases, that is the softer skills required by businesses.

“There has also been a need, for some time, to give young people a better understanding of the careers that are out there and the skills and qualifications they will need to pursue them. We are delighted to be working with the CWLEP on the new Coventry and Warwickshire Careers Hubs and it is great that this will feature in our conference in November. 

“Our annual conference brings together business and civic leaders from across the region in one room and it’s the perfect opportunity to hear about the latest developments across the patch and the key economic information for our region.”

The conference, which is headline sponsored by Warwickshire College Group, will also hear from keynote speaker Sir Ranulph Fiennes Bt OBE – the record-breaking expedition leader, who was the first person to reach both North and South Poles by foot

Presenter, broadcaster and journalist, Naga Munchetty, will host the conference, which will feature addresses and panel discussions with a range of business figures and key decision makers.

For more information and to book your place at the conference visit www.cw-chamber.co.uk/events