The prime minister is calling on Britain to invest in the future of its young people and provide them with the skills necessary to make a real contribution to society.
Writing in the Times, Andy Burnham said it was unacceptable that a million young people – one in eight – was neither earning nor learning, creating a generation denied its chance to get on in life.
His words tie in with the campaign to link businesses in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) with the region’s universities, colleges and schools – to ensure young people have the right skills to move into useful employment.
East Midlands Chamber is overseeing the Local Skills Improvement Plan for LLR which will bridge the gap between the skills employers need and the training available to the local workforce.
It reflects changes in the skills landscape, including the creation of Skills England and the strategic direction outlined in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper.
And it is easy for businesses to get involved by signing up here.
There they can log in and complete a business survey which the Chamber will use to guide the skills being offered locally.
The website also offers a breakdown of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland employment scene, the types of jobs available and the skills needed to fill them.
There are also contact details for the key skills providers – our colleges, universities and private trainers.
Writing in the Times, the PM said it was time to either “invest in the success of our young people or pay for failure through the benefits system”.
We cannot afford to do both.
He said: “I am clear we will not succeed if we approach this as a traditional top-down reform run out of one Whitehall department.
“We need every part of government and every part of the country pulling together to back the next generation.
“Alan Milburn’s review into young people and work will be published next month, and we will take his recommendations seriously.
“But I can say now that we are going to turn the system around and guarantee young people support up front.
“We will start in schools, rebuild the education system and establish parity between academic and technical routes.
“Every young person will be guaranteed a high-quality technical pathway, work placements, apprenticeships and the skills and experience they need to secure a good job.”
If you have a business in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and want to play a part in shaping future skills provision, click here.
