Tees Valley Schools to be Part of Pioneering Careers Initiative

Young people in the Tees Valley are set to benefit from an ambitious scheme to transform careers education.

The pilot will secure more than £300,000 towards careers education in the Tees Valley to work with 35 schools and colleges. The Department for Education initiative will target 26,000 pupils aged 11 to 18.

Coordinated by the Tees Valley Combined Authority, The Careers Hub will provide resources to support schools and colleges to access employers, while bursaries will be available to help them develop ‘careers leaders’.

It is part of a national initiative spearheaded by the Careers and Enterprise Company, which aims to ensure schools meet eight crucial standards for careers education, known as the Gatsby Benchmarks.

Findings from the pilot scheme in the Tees Valley and 19 other regions across the UK will be fed back to the Government to inform future policy.

This announcement comes weeks after Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen launched a UK-first initiative to link up the region’s 100,000 pupils with more than 1,000 businesses. The £3million “www.teesvalleycareers.com” initiative will give students at least seven meaningful engagements with employers by the age of 18.

Mayor Houchen said: “This pilot Careers Hub is a great opportunity for Teessiders to have a genuine influence on national policy, putting the needs of local young people at the centre of what the Government does.

“The economic future of the Tees Valley will be determined by the education and skills that young people get today. Whether they want to embark on an apprenticeship programme, go to university, or choose another route, this Careers Hub and www.teesvalleycareers.com will give them the experience they need to achieve their ambitions.”

Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher, Lead cabinet member for Education Employment and Skills, said: “This enhances our strategy ‘Inspiring our Future’ and will help companies source the workers they need. It will address skills shortages and strengthen local industry for years to come.”

Claudia Harris, Chief Executive of The Careers & Enterprise Company, said: “We’re excited by the potential impact of the Hubs. If employers, schools and colleges can better prepare young people for the world of work, we’re not just benefiting the future economy, but improving prospects for thousands of young people.”