GREG HOLDS LOCAL CAREERS EDUCATION ROUNDTABLE
09.10.12 For immediate release: Bexhill and Battle MP, Greg Barker, invited local schools and colleges, business, and voluntary organisations to a roundtable meeting on careers education at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill recently.
Greg organised the meeting to bring together some of the key organisations who can help deliver the best careers education and advice to young people in the Bexhill and Battle constituency. Greg is determined that all young people have a good understanding of the options for employment, further education or training that are available to them when they leave school and that they are equipped with the skills they need to apply for them.
During the morning discussion covered a number of topics including: the needs of young people who need more support to avoid them falling into the NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) category when they leave school; the experiences and expectations of employers; current careers education provision; practical skills such as CV writing and interview techniques; understanding the workplace; work experience; raising aspirations and career planning.
Speaking after the meeting Greg said “It is clear that all our local secondary schools and colleges work very hard to provide good careers advice to their students. However, I think much more could be done to help young people think about their future career paths and equip them with the essential skills they need to apply for work or training.
Today’s discussions have been extremely worthwhile and I hope that this will help to build stronger relationships between our schools and colleges, Jobcentre Plus and local business and voluntary organisations who can also help to make a significant contribution to careers education. We all need to work together to help our young people raise their aspirations and ambitions but also to understand the realities of the workplace and teach them the practical skills they need. I shall certainly do all that I can to help and I am very grateful to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to join the roundtable today.”