2,750 year 9 pupils complete Black Country Passport to Employment

News
03/08/2017

Over 2,750 year 9 pupils from 16 Black Country senior schools have completed the Black Country Passport to Employment Programme. The Passport to Employment is a collaborative project led by the Black Country Skills Factory and funded by The Careers & Enterprise Company.

The Passport to Employment has supported young people across the Black Country to develop their careers knowledge and employability skills in key transformational sectors including Advanced Manufacturing, Building Technologies, Transport Technologies, Environmental Technologies and Business Services.

The programme has been recognised nationally for connecting year 9 pupils and teachers with employers from these key sectors through a variety of activities and events held at both the school and employers. In addition to the pupils engaging in the project, from December 2016 to July 2017 53 teachers undertook visits and over 90 employees from 38 different companies have participated as volunteers, hosts or contributors to the session plans.

Of the 2750 pupils who participated, the programme has had the following impact:

  • 78% of pupils have developed knowledge and understanding of the key sectors and what is involved in working in these sectors.
  • 72% of pupils are more likely to consider apprenticeships.
  • 68% wanted to know more about the key sectors as possible future careers.

Led by the Black Country Skills Factory delivery partners include Education Business Partnerships (EBPs) from across the four boroughs; Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Business in the Community (BITC), as well as businesses from across the Black Country.

Working collaboratively these organisations have developed 1-day interactive sessions for year 9 pupils and teachers from 16 schools in the Black Country, the sessions included a “Skills Challenge” and a “Getting a Job in the Sector” activity.

Colin Parker, Skills Factory Director, Black Country LEP said: “Our Passport to Employment programme has proven to make a real impact with the Year 9 pupils at a time when they are making subject selection decisions. The knowledge and understanding of the future key job sectors in the area is vital knowledge both for them and their teachers in helping them to make informed decisions. 78% of pupils gained knowledge and understanding of the sector, with 90%+ of teachers stating the workshops are relevant for them, their institutions and their pupils.

“This programme has succeeded above our expectations and the results highlight the importance and the benefits of schools and business working together in careers and enterprise education.

“This programme could not have succeeded without the help and passionate support of local employers and the cooperative working between the partners.”


For further information on the Passport to Employment visit http://www.blackcountryskillsfactory.co.uk/

For more information on the awards and The Careers & Enterprise Company’s Annual Conference visit https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/news/joining-dots-annual-conference-2017