Following an application backed by the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership £150,000 P/A has been allocated to help boost career education in Dorset.
The Hub comprises 40 local schools and colleges who will be working alongside universities – including Bournemouth University and Arts University Bournemouth – training providers, career professionals and employers across Dorset.
One of the schools involved in the scheme is Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne, their headteacher, Martin McLeman said: “We are delighted to be part of Dorset Careers Hub and look forward to Queen Elizabeth’s School supporting colleagues in its deployment. We value the input of employers in all aspects of education and the Careers Hub will deepen that engagement across Dorset.”
Over 100 businesses in Dorset have committed to championing connections between education and employment, it is unknown how many of these are within the BCP area.
One of these ‘cornerstone employers’ is Superior Seals in Wimborne, Ben Clarke, Quality Manager said: “We are delighted to become the first cornerstone employer for Dorset Careers Hub.
“We look forward to working with our local network and the wider business community to ensure that young people across Dorset have the opportunities they need to be prepared and inspired for the world of work.”
The funds have come from the Department for Education as part of an effort across the country to improve connections between employers and schools.
Damian Hinds MP, Secretary of State for Education said: “It is so important that young people get to know about a range of different jobs and careers so they can see the possible opportunities out there. Good careers education is such a valuable asset that helps children to explore future possibilities and go on to lead happy rewarding lives.
“Careers Hubs bring together schools, colleges, universities and employers to share their expertise and improve the careers education on offer to make sure young people have the information they need to make the most of their talents.”
The Hub will be managed by a full time Hub lead based at Dorset LEP’s offices alongside enterprise co-coordinators; the aim is to improve careers support throughout Dorset.
This will be done by providing schools and colleges access to support and funding, training for existing careers leaders and a central fund to support employer engagement activities.
Jim Stewart, Chair of Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership said: “We worked closely with stakeholders on this bid, including our delivery partners BCP Council and Dorset Council. Research shows that providing young people with gold standard careers advice and employer encounters helps them ‘touch their future’. The Dorset Careers Hub will fast-track this support to 40,000 young people.”
For more information on the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership visit their website.
Apprenticeships or university, what’s the right route?
Apprenticeship numbers dropped significantly in both the UK and the South West between 2017 and 2018. In all of the UK a drop of 120,000 took place, in the South West it was a drop of 11,000 to 43,000.
A survey by the Sutton Trust found that 64% of people surveyed would be ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ interested in doing an apprenticeship available for a job they were interested in, up from 55% in 2014.
The Sutton Trust found that those who have completed level 5 apprenticeships were expected to earn over £50,000 more over their lifetime than those who graduated from non-elite universities.