Step Up provides a way for schools and businesses to connect so that young people learn about the opportunities in the region and develop the skills that will help them move from education into employment. It is a brokerage service where businesses can post opportunities such as work experience and jobs fairs, and where schools and students can make requests for speakers, site visits and work placements.
The portal, www.timetostepup.co.uk, is an initiative by Cambridge Ahead together with local schools and the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership (GCGP LEP). The development of the platform has been coordinated by Form the Future, the social enterprise that has been chosen to deliver the skills programme in the Cambridge area for the Greater Cambridge City Deal and GCGP LEP.
The initiative has come about because Cambridge’s economy is growing fast and organisations are finding it increasingly challenging to attract and retain staff with the right skills. At the same time, young people are investing heavily in higher education, often with little idea of what employment opportunities might follow. There is also a group of young people who lack inspiration or direction and are at risk of failing to find employment altogether. The new service will be launched at Form the Future’s Education & Skills conference at the University Technical College in Cambridge from 4-7pm.
“Many employers in Cambridge struggle to recruit young people with the right skills and the skills shortage can act as a brake on business growth. Step Up will give us the platform to increase the connections between schools and businesses so we can help young people see the opportunities on their doorstep,” said Jane Paterson-Todd, CEO of Cambridge Ahead.
For more details please see the press release. To find out more about the conference, its agenda and how to register to attend, see here.
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