WLEP COLUMN: Continuing the good work after exams

I was delighted to read the reports from our county’s A-level results, which have shown that Worcestershire has outperformed the national trends and has seen an increase in the number of students gaining top grades.

We’re fortunate that we have access to a variety of top quality education in Worcestershire, but it’s important that businesses continue to help to educate our future generations on all the career options available to them. Businesses of all sizes can help to do this by getting involved with the Worcestershire Careers Hub.

The support of local businesses could make the difference to a young person that is choosing a certain industry or pathway. The Worcestershire Careers Hub and its partners are working hard towards addressing the county’s skills gap, and I would encourage businesses to join the Careers Hub and work with local schools and colleges, to raise awareness of the employment opportunities available in Worcestershire.

There are a variety of ways to get involved, a few examples are: giving assembly talks to schools, supporting young people with mock interviews and CV workshops, offering a young person work experience or an internship opportunity, or becoming an Enterprise Adviser and supporting an educational establishment to provide meaningful careers guidance for students.

If your business is able to offer support, please email cec@worcestershire.gov.uk

I would also encourage all businesses to consider supporting apprenticeships.

Businesses can visit the Worcestershire Apprenticeships website for a number of useful case studies about employers’ past and current experiences with providing apprenticeships.

For more details businesses that are looking to hire Apprenticeships as part of the next steps for growing their workforce, visit the Worcestershire Apprenticeships website, worcsapprenticeships.org.uk