Employers and educators working together to highlight career options
PARTNERSHIP: Pictured at Chamber Expo are, from left, Viki Foster of Withernsea High School, Rod Chambers from HEY LSIP and Gemma Hayes-Logan of Wyke Sixth Form College
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Employers across the region are building on their connections with schools and colleges to help young people explore the wide variety of careers options available on their doorstep.
Gemma Hayes-Logan, head of careers and skills at Wyke Sixth Form College, and Viki Foster, careers leader at Withernsea High School, are among the experts from the education sector who have already developed strong partnerships with the world of business.
They are increasing their reach through their involvement with Hull and East Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (HEY LSIP), managed by the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce, and are urging more employers to step up and offer opportunities for young people. Feedback from businesses demonstrates the benefits for all concerned.
Sam Foster, group talent acquisition officer at Cranswick Country Foods PLC, said: “We have built a strong and purposeful partnership with Wyke College. Through a mix of traditional careers engagement and more innovative initiatives, we have been able to showcase our organisation while identifying and engaging future talent.
“This has had a tangible impact on our early careers pipeline, with a notable proportion of apprentices and degree apprentices joining from Wyke across areas including commercial, marketing, finance, operations, and technical functions. Providing real-life insight into our business, alongside opportunities to contribute to curriculum-linked activity, has helped bring learning to life and build confidence and employability.
“The relationship continues to evolve thanks to the proactive and flexible approach of the Wyke careers team, enabling us to develop initiatives that are engaging, relevant, and mutually valuable. We are proud of what has been achieved so far and look forward to continuing this innovative partnership.”
Gemma said that the careers team at Wyke deliver a programme that is fully embedded within the curriculum and focused on developing students’ skills and overall Wyke experience as they prepare for their future pathways.
She added: “Everything we offer, from lessons to enrichment activities, is designed to build the knowledge, skills and understanding students need for their future. It’s about linking the curriculum to real opportunities and helping students see how their learning connects to the workplace.
“We can’t expect people to leave school at 16 and understand the many roles available. Students don’t just leave us with qualifications. They leave with direction.”
Dan Clubley, mechanical planner at Centrica Energy Storage+, said: “We have a strong and longstanding relationship with Withernsea High School.
“Several years ago, we received approval to welcome students onto our gas production facility at Easington. Since then, we have given 25 students the opportunity to visit our office, heliport and gas production asset.
“They gain exposure to areas including purchasing, accounting, engineering and HSE, as well as first-hand experience with our maintenance and operations teams.
“Feedback suggests it is the hands-on experiences that spark the greatest interest, whether testing a switch, setting a relief valve or fault-finding on our hydraulic simulation unit.
“It is also a pleasure to support Withernsea High School’s careers events. We currently have two former Withernsea students in the second year of their Centrica apprenticeships, which is a fantastic reflection of the value of this partnership.”
Viki said a top priority at Withernsea High School is to overcome any geographical challenges.
She said: “We are not prepared to let our students miss out because of where we are. We do have to travel, and that costs money, but we definitely look outwards at what we can bring into the school. People who have been through our school, gone off and been successful, have come back and used their experience to help other people to navigate the system
“We have to make sure students are getting these opportunities to prepare themselves for the workplace. It’s about finding a job, building up the skills to prepare them for it, being creative, problem solving, resilience.”
Rod Chambers, project manager for HEY LSIP, said Humber Business Week is a good opportunity for educators to connect with employers but the vital focus in schools and colleges on protected teaching time in the run up to exams makes it challenging for the education sector to play a full part.
He said: “Most employers are aware that there are better opportunities at other times of the year, and that’s a message that we are all working to amplify. Wyke College does a lot of its employer engagement work between November and March and schools and colleges across the region place huge importance on National Apprenticeship Week in February.
“Our role at the LSIP is to bring together employers and the various education, training and skills providers so between them they can identify and tackle skills gaps in the Hull and East Yorkshire region.”
To find out more visit https://www.heylsip.com/
A Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is a statutory, employer-led plan designed to ensure local skills provision reflects the needs of employers, individuals and the wider economy. Its purpose is to:
Provide a clear understanding of current and future skills requirements
Align education and training with labour market demand
Support economic growth, productivity and workforce development.
LSIPs are founded on key principles of being employer-led, evidence-based, collaborative and action-focused. By bringing together employers, providers, strategic authorities and other partners, they create a shared framework for identifying priorities, agreeing practical actions and developing a more responsive skills system that supports better jobs, career progression and long-term prosperity.