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Operating Plan

Discover the Operating Plan for Careers Hubs, 2023-25

The West Midlands has one of the highest rates of young people who are NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) in the UK; and we want to help change that. 

Research suggests that staying in a NEET state for prolonged periods of time can have a negative impact on the physical health, mental wellbeing, and future career prospects of young people. Our Careers Hubs were set up with the aim of providing a route out of this and onto the path to success. 

Our vision is to work collaboratively with schools, colleges and employers to help every young person find their best next step.

The mission:

  • To give all young people in year 11, sixth form or college access to great quality careers advice
  • To create opportunities for all students from year 7 and up to have meaningful encounters with employers
  • To enable all young people to have the opportunity to undertake work experience
  • To provide information to schools, colleges, and parents, ensuring every route into employment is considered
  • To eliminate barriers for all young people regardless of ability or background, producing leaders for the future

Policy aims:

  • We aim for a careers system that has a measurable impact on all young people
  • We will include all young people in careers education by removing barriers
  • We will support leaders to build careers education and a curriculum that prepares young people for the world of work
  • We will enhance the employer role in careers education

Objectives:

  • Improve careers education in schools and colleges through training the education workforce, targeted support, and quality assurance
  • Provide more high quality experiences with employers for students and teachers, focusing on areas of need
  • Amplify apprenticeships, technical and vocational routes by supporting schools to implement the Provider Access Legislation
  • Targeted interventions for economically disadvantaged young people and those who face barriers to progression
  • Connect careers provision in schools and colleges to skills gaps and the needs of local economies and businesses
  • Reduce the number of young people who become NEET at age 16-19 by 50%

Activity:

  • Support SLT (Senior Leadership Teams) in schools and colleges to develop careers education that meets the needs of local employers and to identify intervention required to prevent young people becoming disengaged and at risk of becoming NEET in the future
  • Provide up-to-date local LMI (Labour Market Information)
  • Develop, manage and deliver a transitional partnership group for the West Midlands
  • Provide support to Cornerstone Employers to enhance their offer to provide opportunities for vulnerable students
  • Increase the number of students receiving workplace experience to 90%
  • Encourage employers to offer more training, employment and work experience opportunities for young people
  • Provide CPD (Continuing Professional Development) for teachers and careers professionals to increase their knowledge of local LMI
  • Support schools and colleges to evaluate the impact of their careers education programmes in order to make relevant improvements
  • Implement a tracking tool that can be utilised to quickly identify and target action towards those disengaging post 16

Outcomes:

  • Improved engagement with SLTs, MATs (Multiple-Academy Trusts) and Link Governors to make all West Midlands schools and colleges part of the Careers Hub
  • Improve the way we measure the impact of careers education on young people
  • Levelling up careers education to create opportunities for all young people
  • Implement a ‘Youth Voice’ strategy in each Careers Hub
  • Create sustainable Careers Education Programmes that develop skills needed for the future workforce
  • Ensure employers are fully integrated into our work
  • Fit for purpose LMI for all
  • Tracking of the progress of young people post 16
  • Early intervention for those at risk of being NEET