WORCESTERSHIRE has become the first region to reach a milestone achievement in the national skills programme.

All the county's secondary schools have successfully been recruited into the Careers and Enterprise Company Enterprise Adviser Network - the first in the UK to reach this milestone.

The network helps to create powerful, lasting connections between local businesses and schools by bringing together company volunteers and school leadership teams.

This is all designed to develop effective careers planning strategies for young Worcestershire people to support them ready with an education and prepared to move instantly into the world of work.

Worcestershire is now the first region to have all of its secondary schools, further education colleges and special education need secondary schools signed up to the initiative, helping to support schools in informing their careers advice, and improving careers planning for young people across the county.

Worcestershire’s Careers and Enterprise Company forms part of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) wider Connecting Schools and Business programme which works with schools, young people and employers across the county to offer support to schools and careers professionals.

Claudia Harris, chief executive of the careers and enterprise company, said: “It has been such a pleasure to work with the team at Worcestershire LEP to make this happen and we are incredibly grateful for the support of the LEP along with the Local Authority and Chamber of Commerce.

"What is really evident from Worcestershire’s approach is the spirit of partnership and the seamless integration of the Careers and Enterprise Company’s offering to schools.”

Mark Stansfeld, chairman of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “This is another tremendous achievement that shows Worcestershire is leading the way in providing local employers with skills that are needed for the future of business.

"Earlier this year, Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s research recognised Worcestershire as achieving the UK’s highest growth in Higher Level Workforce skills for the second year running and it is therefore great to see the county continue its momentum in skills provision.”

Judy Chadwick, skills lead for Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “This is a fantastic achievement for our team and for the schools and businesses across Worcestershire."

For more visit careersandenterprise.co.uk.