Successful year for scheme to forge links with firms
A SCHOOLS initiative aimed at tackling a skills shortage and nurturing “home-grown talent” in a South Yorkshire town is marking its first successful year.
Made In Barnsley is a longterm initiative designed to forge stronger links between the borough’s schools and the local business community.
It aims to encourage students to learn and develop the key skills needed to succeed in the workplace, while also helping to showcase a diverse range of career opportunities available through local businesses.
Supported by Naylor Industries, Henry Boot, Workwise and Barnsley Healthcare Federation, the three-year programme aims to help Year 9 pupils who are considering their GCSE options to explore the different career opportunities available after leaving school within the area.
Jim Logan, chief executive of Barnsley Healthcare Federation, said: “I regularly meet with business owners throughout Barnsley, and it struck me that there is clear gap between the skills taught in the classroom and the ones needed to succeed in the workplace. It’s an issue which impacts upon many business sectors and we wanted to use the programme to inspire young people to find out more about careers in many different sectors ranging from healthcare, construction and engineering, many of which face recruitment difficulties.
“The student ambassadors programme we launched last year is the first part of a long-term programme to give every secondary student in Barnsley the chance to participate, and even though the programme is at a relatively early stage, there has been evidence that participation has helped to build confidence among pupils in the classroom, as well as breaking down the perceptions about working in different careers.”
Coun Jeff Ennis, Mayor of Barnsley, added: “It is a terrific programme which helps to inspire, encourage and nurture home-grown talent.”
The first cohort of pupils will complete their course in September 2018. Meanwhile a new group of ambassadors is currently being recruited.