The West of England is “leading when it comes to careers education for young people” and could “teach the rest of the country a thing or two”, according to Metro Mayor Dan Norris.
The Metro Mayor made the comments as he addressed the West of England Combined Authority’s annual careers conference at SGS College - attended by over 90 headteachers including Bradley Stoke Community School, City of Bristol College and Norton Hill School.
The Mayor announced a £710,000 cash injection to extend the work of the West of England Combined Authority's Careers Hub programme.
Thanks to the new cash pupils in every secondary school and college in the region will have the chance to benefit from an ‘enterprise adviser’. They will work with to schools linking them to local employers and promoting new opportunities including high skilled green jobs.
The Metro Mayor closed the event with a positive address about improving the life chances of young people across the region and ensuring young talent isn’t wasted. He said: “A child born today will go on to have six or seven different jobs and some of them we won’t have even imagined yet. So great career advice is vital. It can have a life-changing impact on young people encouraging them to expand their horizons and go on to get skilled, secure and well paid jobs. I’m so pleased this bumper £710,000 cash injection from the West of England Combined Authority I lead means more youngsters will get the chance to be job ready and life ready.”