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On May 24th, Paul Thandi (The NEC Group), Stewart Towe (Hadley Group) and Business in the Community's Regional Director, David Darlaston will convene business leaders, students, practitioners and teachers to collaborate on an important shared agenda of work experience. They will take part in the Big Conversation, one-to-one conversations between business leaders and young people – enquiring about what students want from work experience and advising on paths they can take to access careers across a number of sectors such as Public, Construction, Professional Services, Education, Retail and Hospitality.
Businesses of all sizes and sectors across the UK are being encouraged to commit to reviewing and improving the work experience they offer to their young people every year. The Work Inspiration campaign (www.workinspiration.com), from Business in the Community (BITC), was launched in September 2009. Organisations such as The NEC Group, BT and KPMG were amongst the 100 businesses to attend the first Big Conversation, which marked the start of a business-led movement of employers across the UK.
Paul Thandi, The NEC Group chief executive, said: “Events such as the Big Conversation are extremely important in helping to transition young people from school life to work environments in a more connected way . I am exceptionally pleased that this event has been so successful. There are 13% of 16-18 years-olds in the West Midlands who aren't in education, employment or training, and it is through events such as the Big Conversation that we will be able to reduce this number and raise standards.
“With almost **12,750 pupils at local schools eligible to take part in work experience programmes, there is a wealth of young people who are ready to learn the crucial skills that they will need in order to prosper in today's competitive business environments. As leaders we have a responsibility to the next generation to make it better than it was for us .”
BITC's regional director, David Daralston said: “Work experience acts as a vital link between young people and the world of business, so it is my firm belief that employers should play their part to ensure young people's first experience of work is both challenging and rewarding. The Big Conversation is the first step of a crucial dialogue between young people and business, and in doing so will help business to better understand how they can meet the ambitions of young people, and provide the best possible work experience.”
The Work Inspiration campaign is on track to meeting its aspirational target of 100,000 work placements across the UK by September 2010. Currently there are over 517 organisations engaged and supporting the campaign, some of these include Jobcentre Plus, Midland Heart, Shoosmiths, PWC and The National Trust. To date, combined organisations have influenced over 35,500 placements through working with partners, champions and by undertaking events across the country.
Positive experiences of work can demonstrate to young people that there are many paths to success, enhancing their life and career aspirations. Businesses also benefit from an increase in future recruits with greater business awareness, and, at the same time, develop the leadership and management skills of their staff.
Businesses can find out more and sign up to the campaign at www.workinspiration.com.
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For further information contact Linda Considine on 0750 2372774 or at linda.considine@yahoo.co.uk
Notes to Editors
West Midlands Big Conversation
Monday 24 May 2010
The ICC, Birmingham
Hall 4 & Hall 8
09h30 - 13h00
Statistics from The Poverty site
* Statistics provided by LAs. Number of year 10s eligible for work experience in Birmigham excluding private schools and academies.
About Work Inspiration
The Work Inspiration campaign www.workinspiration.com mobilises businesses to turn work experience into work inspiration, to bridge the gap that exists between the classroom and the world of work.
The campaign began on September 15th 2009, when Sir Stuart Rose, the Chairman of Business in the Community (BITC), launched a national call to action to improve work experience for young people.
This formed the start of a national business-led movement — business talking to business across the country to improve the work experience they offer — convened and supported by BITC. The goal is to improve work experience for the 500,000 students entering placements in June 2010.
Work Inspiration campaign addresses two critical needs:
The business need for employable recruits, the standard of which is improved by engaging earlier with the future workforce;
The social need to provide young people with a clearer picture of work, to equip them to make decisions about their future career paths, and increase their employability.
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