Preston & South Ribble schoolkids to benefit from new multi million pound work experience scheme

Schoolkids in Preston and South Ribble are amongst the hundreds across the county that are to be benefit from a brand new work experience scheme.

Lancashire is one of 10 areas across England to be awarded funding through the £2.3 million Future Ready Fund, a three-year programme designed to close the career readiness gap through high-quality, modern work experience.

A total of 375 secondary school pupils from 25 Lancashire schools are set to take part in a ground breaking scheme which is designed to close the career readiness gap through high-quality, modern work experience.

What does the scheme entail?

The Future Ready Fund is delivered by The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC), the national body for careers education in England and supported by JPMorganChase.

In Lancashire, the Careers Hub will focus on supporting students from schools that are located in the areas with the highest economic inactivity, ensuring support is targeted where it can make the greatest difference.

Evidence shows that while high-quality work experience can significantly improve employability and workplace skills, access remains unequal, with disadvantaged young people least likely to benefit.

Now moving into full delivery, the fund will support the same cohorts of young people over three years, tracking their progress through to 2030.

CEC will evaluate the impact and publish the findings to share best practice in modern work experience across the country.

The Future Ready Fund aims to:

• Improve career readiness, employability and foundational workplace skills for socio-economically disadvantaged young people

• Increase the capability and capacity of employers to deliver high-quality work experience

• Build the evidence base for what works and share best practice across the careers sector

The aim is to build career readiness, employability and foundational workplace skills for socio-economically disadvantaged young people, while the programme will also increase the capability and capacity of employers to deliver high-quality work experience and build and share best practice across the careers sector.

50 employers are supporting the project with work experience activities taking place to bring the young people and employers together.

Which schools are taking part?

Blackpool: Armfield Academy, Blackpool Aspire Academy, Highfield Leadership Academy, Montgomery High School, South Shore Academy

Blackburn with Darwen: Blackburn Central High School, Darwen Vale High School, Our Lady and St John Catholic College, Pleckgate High School

Burnley: Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College, Burnley High School, Shuttleworth College, Sir John Thursby Community College

Fylde: Carr Hill High School

Hyndburn: Accrington Academy, The Hollins, The Hyndburn Academy, Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School, The Rhyddings School

Pendle: Nelson Marsden Heights Community College, Pendle Vale College

Preston: Moor Park High School and Sixth Form

South Ribble: Academy @ Worden, St Marys Catholic High School, Leyland

Wyre: Fleetwood High School

What has been said about The Future Ready Fund?

Cllr Simon Evans, Chair of the Skills Advisory Board at Lancashire Combined County Authority, said: "We know while high-quality work experience can significantly improve employability and workplace skills, access remains unequal, with disadvantaged young people least likely to benefit.

"With this in mind, I am delighted that Lancashire has been chosen for this ground breaking scheme, which will focus on ensuring support is targeted for our young people in the places where it can make the greatest difference in a range of schools and employers through the Lancashire Careers Hub."

“We are investing in skills and training to help U.K. residents access greater career opportunities, because we think engaged labour force participation is a critical element of the strong economy that benefits U.K. business.” said Anna Dunn, CEO of JPMorganChase U.K. “Our continued investments will support the U.K.’s increased focus on boosting skills and pathways to quality careers.”

John Yarham, Chief Executive, The Careers & Enterprise Company, said: “Too many young people face barriers to becoming career ready. Not because of a lack of potential, but because of unequal access to support, including high-quality work experience.

"The Future Ready Fund is about changing that. By working with Careers Hubs, schools and employers to design bespoke, modern work experiences, we can help young people build confidence, skills and a clearer sense of their future. This partnership with JPMorganChase shows what is possible when the public and private sectors work together to tackle inequality at scale.”