A Worcestershire businessman has endorsed a newly launched landmark county skills initiative.

Managing director of Worcester Bosch, Carl Arntzen, was the keynote speaker at the recent launch of Connecting Schools and Business (CSAB), a skills programme being supported by all 29 Worcestershire High Schools.

CSAB is designed to strengthen the relationship between the county's high schools and industry to help develop the next generation of Worcestershire's workforce.

It will offer work experience opportunities and help increase young people's awareness of industry.

CSAB's new web portal, worcestershireskillscentral.co.uk, will let companies offer quality work placement opportunities, apprenticeships vacancies and other support including Young Enterprise programmes for budding entrepreneurs and coaching and mentoring for young people.

Students from each school will be will be able to upload CVs, apply for work placements and track their performance while in the workplace linked to their school targets.

Mr Arntzen said: "I was delighted to support this visionary new initiative which will knit schools and business together smoothing the path to meaningful work experience for students and discovering the next generation of talent for business in Worcestershire.

"So many influential businesses have signed up on the portal and we are looking forward to many more joining up to be part of what I believe is a watershed moment in time for our county."

The programme was put together by schools and business leaders under the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the Employment and Skills Board (ESB) and was launched at Sixways Stadium last month.

CSAB has already been backed by over 150 businesses, including Worcester Bosch, Mazak, QuinetiQ, Thomas Vale Construction, Worcester Warriors, West Midlands Safari Park, Kane's Foods and Harrison Clark Rickerbys.