Businesses and education providers have come together en masse to bridge the gap between curriculum and careers for the benefit of the future of the North East.

In recent years there has been a wave of reports and articles on school careers advice largely criticising the provision currently available to young people. However Dame Allan’s Schools in Newcastle have long bucked this trend and hosting the business breakfast, which brought together some of the North East’s strongest business and education representatives, is yet another feather in their cap.

Over 150 representatives from businesses in the region, including the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, Muckle LLP, Tyneside Cinema, Sage Gateshead, PWC and Nestle to name a few, met with over 20 North East schools and colleges and the region’s five universities to discuss the North East’s careers advice agenda at the business breakfast.

The morning, which focussed on the Good Career Guidance Benchmarks pilot, was delivered by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation. The pilot has shown that there is no ‘magic bullet’ for improving careers guidance but identifies eight benchmarks to offer solutions and ensure that young people have the skills to meet the needs of employers and, therefore, support the economy.

Karyn Taylor, Head of Technology at St Joseph’s Catholic Academy, Hebburn, praised the event, saying: ‘This has been a brilliant event for us to network and to discover new and exciting opportunities for our students.’

Lieutenant Colonel Andy Black, Engagement Officer for the Army in the North East, attached to the 4th Infantry Brigade, said: ‘Careers guidance is very important for both young people and employers. It is vital that we understand the trend and direction of careers in the region and nationally. The army is in the top 20 list for employers and apprenticeships in the UK and we are delighted to support this influential event.’

Commenting on the business breakfast, Sarah Glendinning, Regional Director of the CBI said:  ‘This event is a wonderful example of businesses, schools and Higher Education coming together to set an agenda for careers guidance that will benefit everyone. It has been widely reported that careers advice is currently not doing enough to support our young people. We all need to take responsibility for, and do more, to prepare students to enter the world of work – a world which is changing more rapidly than ever before. This business breakfast initiative is a fantastic example of the work being done in the North East to help our young people. It has provided an invaluable chance for different parties to work together on focused areas across curricular subjects and their real world application, with a view to improving opportunities for all.’

Alongside the North East LEP, the breakfast event was arranged by Head of Careers at Dame Allan’s Schools Belinda Whitehouse. Belinda has been nominated for UK Career Educator of the Year at the Career Development Institute awards for her extensive work on careers guidance. This includes the biennial Futures Fair which is also held at Dame Allan’s and which in 2016 saw over 1000 attendees speaking with over 100 businesses, educational establishments and training providers.

The North East LEP sponsored the event through its Good Career Guidance Benchmarks Innovation Fund. Ryan Gibson, National Facilitator for the pilot and who is also  one of the three shortlisted for the UK Careers Educator of the Year Awards, said: ‘The Good Career Guidance Benchmarks are transforming schools’ approach to careers education. The event at Dame Allan’s is an excellent example of how the Benchmarks are encouraging people from both businesses and education, at all stages, to innovate and collaborate. Crucially, this event will develop practical resources that help to embed careers within the curriculum – improving careers education and inspiration for young people.

‘In a period when time is tight, it is great to see such collaboration and support across the education – business sector and I’m looking forward to seeing the resources and partnerships developed put into practice in schools and colleges across the region.’

Echoing Ryan’s views, Dr John Hind, Principal at Dame Allan’s Schools said: ‘It has been a privilege to host this event which will go on to shape the future of careers guidance across the region. We are delighted to have been able to welcome representatives from such a large range of businesses to work collaboratively with schools from across the North East for the benefit of our young people.’

The event was held in advance of National Careers Week which takes place 6 – 12 March so that those who attended can take what they learned back to the classroom.