TREASURY MINISTER PRAISES HEMSWORTH’S ROLE IN CREATING ENTREPRENEURS OF THE FUTURE

Treasury Minister John Healey praised the ongoing achievements of the Yorkshire and Humber Enterprise Adviser Service when he met with members of the team at Hemsworth Arts and Community College today.

Following the recommendations of Sir Howard Davies’ Review of “enterprise and the economy in education”, the Chancellor announced a pilot programme of Enterprise Adviser schemes in Budget 2003 to work with 1,000 secondary schools throughout the country.

The Yorkshire and Humber Enterprise Adviser Service’s 14 Enterprise advisers have been working in 114 schools throughout the Region since early 2004. They use enterprise education and activities in schools to develop the skills and confidence that young people need in employment.

The scheme is receiving over £2 million of funding over two years from the Learning and Skills Council.

Speaking in Hemsworth, John Healey said:

“To create a dynamic business culture in this country we need to start within the education system, showing young people the importance of entrepreneurship and the many opportunities available to them. By enthusing the adults of tomorrow in business and enterprise we will help to ensure that all parts of Britain enjoy the economic prosperity that comes from a skilled, diverse and entrepreneurial workforce.

“The Yorkshire and Humber Enterprise Adviser Service is doing excellent work in establishing links between the school and the business community and in promoting the enterprise agenda. I have been impressed by the commitment and innovation of the advisers, teachers and students participating in this scheme at Hemsworth College today. I wish the Service continuing success in the future.”

Eddie Rodgers, chief executive of the West Yorkshire Enterprise Partnership, who manage and deliver the Enterprise Adviser Service Programme in the Yorkshire and Humber region said:

“This project is about giving school leavers a better idea of different career options and the confidence to go into the workplace. Young people need to have the self-belief to be able to make decisions about their future and, if necessary, take some risks. Working closely with schools, our enterprise advisers are bringing entrepreneurial skills into the classroom so that young people are not only prepared for work but can also consider the possibility of running their own business.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The key aims of the Service are to:

Support head teachers, the management team and classroom teachers in the delivery of the enterprise agenda, specifically the recommendations of the Howard Davies review;
Facilitate and broker relationships between the school and the business community to promote the enterprise agenda;
Support the school in the implementation of its statutory requirement for work related learning from September 2004 following the 14-19 curriculum reforms;
Work with the school on the development of an enterprise culture by:

- Enhancing and supporting existing Education Business Link enterprise activities
- Developing synergies with existing enterprise activities, networks and projects
- Developing new and innovative solutions to deliver enterprise learning and support the enterprise agenda.

From this an action plan has been developed for each school, which will be delivered in the 2004/2005 academic year.

2. The strategic aim of the action plan is to stimulate a positive change in the approach to enterprise within the curriculum, to increase the number of enterprise activities and new products and enterprise materials that are developed. Advisers are currently working in their schools to deliver these plans. They principally work with the age group 14-19 years old (Year 10).

3. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is funding this activity to the value of £16 million over 2 years and has established the Enterprise Adviser Service on a regional basis throughout England, with emphasis in areas in need of greater economic development.

4. The principal delivery partner of the Yorkshire and Humber Region Enterprise Adviser service is the West Yorkshire Enterprise Partnership.

5. Media enquiries should be addressed to Rachel Gibbons on 020 7270 5185

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