Bridging the gap between education and employment to boost opportunities for all was the focus of the first ever Surrey Careers Hub conference.
Up to 70 representatives from employers, schools, colleges and training providers attended the event last week at Nescot College in Epsom.
The aim was to celebrate the successes achieved in the first year of the Surrey Careers Hub and explore ways to raise awareness of all the opportunities available to young people in secondary education so they can take their next best step.
By doing so, this will help young people into fulfilling employment while supporting growth in the regional economy.
Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, opened the event. He said: “Providing clear pathways for our young people to gain the skills and information they need for their future careers is vital. Through Surrey Careers Hub, we have the framework in place to offer world class careers provision across the whole of Surrey.
“We have a strong and diverse economy with internationally recognised sectors and outstanding education settings – and it is up to all of us to bring those two things closer together.
“I look forward to seeing our employers and educators continuing to work together to provide opportunities for all our young people, regardless of their background. In time this will deliver benefits to them as individuals, to our businesses and the wider economy.”
Surrey Careers Hub was launched in September 2023 by Surrey County Council with funding from The Careers & Enterprise Company.
During the first 12 months, the Surrey Careers Hub team has:
· Engaged 95 maintained schools, colleges, special schools, alternative provisions and Pupil Referral Units;
· Recruited more than 90 volunteers from the business community to support the delivery of careers related activities for students;
· Provided opportunities for teachers and students to learn more about careers in Surrey’s growth sectors, such as gaming, cyber security, creative industries and construction and infrastructure;
· Supported the progression of schools and colleges across all eight Gatsby Benchmarks; the government recognised framework of good careers education.
Georgina Angele, Strategic Hub Lead at Surrey Careers Hub, said: “Bridging the skills gap is one of the most pressing issues facing the UK economy, even in a region as large and diverse as Surrey.
“This gap not only hampers business growth but also hampers wider economic development – which is why the work we’re doing is so important.
“Our ambition is to ensure Surrey has an engaged, informed and skilled future workforce to meet the demands of the modern economy – but we can only do that with the support and input from employers, educators and our young people.”
The conference saw a variety of speakers talk about a range of issues relevant to the work of the Surrey Careers Hub.
This included businesses, such as Guildford-based IT support services firm ramsac, which recently hosted two groups of teachers to learn more about their work as part of the Teachers Encounters programme. These are workplace experiences for teachers, helping to connect their subject teaching and learning to the world of work.
Delegates also heard from representatives of The Careers & Enterprise Company, a Headteacher, young people and industry stakeholders.
Julie Kapsalis, Principal of Nescot College, who is also a member of the Surrey Careers Hub Cornerstone Employers Group, said: “I am so passionate about the work we’re doing collaboratively around careers, for us as a business but primarily for students. This allows us to respond far better to the wider economic needs of businesses.
“It’s that commitment to raise the quality of careers education, to tackle disadvantage and barriers to success, which is why I am so proud to be involved with the Surrey Careers Hub.”
For more details visit the Surrey Careers Hub website.
Want to support the work of the Surrey Careers Hub? We’re looking for professionals from all sectors and business of all sizes to work strategically with Careers Leaders and Education Leaders as Enterprise Advisers to shape their careers education strategies. Get in touch via our contact us form for further details.
