The 14-19 Commission evolved out of the 14-19 Task Group earlier this year involving the Learning and Skills Council, One NorthEast and Government Office North East, to provide a forum through which partners can work at a regional level to help young people develop skills and specialisms, and to ensure that every young person is helped to find learning and work that is right for them.
In full support of the long term aims of the 14-19 Commission in bringing together all sectors on the issue of young people, the NECC and CBI is handing over the responsibility to carry forward the in-depth work done by Aspire to date with local employers in raising the aspirations of the region’s young people.
A wide variety of research and case studies has been developed by Aspire to forge better understanding between businesses and young people, which will be given to the 14-19 Commission. An online diagnostic tool for employers will also be shared, which will continue Aspire’s work to promote the regional intermediary organisations that exist to help businesses link with the education system.
Aspire’s resources for young people will also be utilised by the 14-19 Commission and its local delivery partnerships. These include 25 live, interactive sector career fact-sheets and 1714 local employer showcases, 20 company film showcases, 5 film career vox pops of young people.
Maggie Pavlou, president of the North East Chamber of Commerce and current chair of Aspire said, “Aspire was an early pioneer in setting the regional agenda for business engagement in raising the career aspirations of young people.
“It was the first completely business-led campaign that brought the issue of raising youth aspirations to the regional economic agenda before any other area of the UK.
“This issue has now emerged clearly within the Central Government agenda. The National Council of Educational Excellence, an advisory body chaired by the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Education, Ed Balls, brings together leaders from all the education sectors and business. It will produce recommendations on how early years providers, schools, and colleges can workbetter with universities, businesses and the independent sector to achieve educational excellence.
“The time is now right to embed the principles and good practice of Aspire within the larger regional context and the 14-19 Commission will benefit greatly from its research and campaign activities across the last few years.”
Sarah Green, regional director of the CBI in the North East said, “Increasingly, the 14-19 Commission will become an important regional co-ordinating body, so the body of work done by Aspire to date will be a valuable platform for continuing employer and youth issues in the region.
“It is important that the Aspire key objectives take on a higher profile within the mainstream agencies in light of the Governmental agenda; and that is why the newly created 14-19 Commission is ideally placed to take it forward.”
Estelle Morris Chair of the 14-19 Commission, “The 14-19 Commission welcomes the level of awareness Aspire has generated among employers on the need to engage with young people, and the evidence it has gathered will provide us with a valuable insight into employer and youth issues in the region. Aspire, through its business networks, has identified many good examples of best practice already in place at companies and schools in the North East that we can build upon in years to come. The 14-19 Commission, through its mission and remit will further strengthen the work that is needed in the region to galvanise the relationships between education and business.”
Mary Coyle, chief executive of Aspire will stand down later this year. She said, “Young people are our future, and to maximise their potential we need to work together to have a bigger impact. I am excited about the prospect of this vital issue being taken forward long term in the region, and seeing a lasting culture change happen among employers and young people. In the last year I have witnessed huge amounts of support among the business community in demonstrating to our young people the opportunities here on their doorstep, and I am looking forward to seeing that taken forward on a wider platform by the 14-19 Commission.”
