Amazing Accrington to host an education summit

AMAZING ACCRINGTON TO HOST AN EDUCATION SUMMIT FOR SCHOOLS AND BUSINESS LEADERS

Following the success of 2019’s event, #AmazingAccrington business leaders have once again teamed up with MP Sara Britcliffe and leading figures from the public sector, to host the second ‘Hyndburn Education Summit’.  

Headteachers have been invited to hear about engagement with employers in the borough and raising aspirations for the next generation, meeting the needs of employers and tailoring education.

To be held on Friday 21st May 2021 at the North Lancs Training Group headquarters in Accrington, this important event will see speakers including:

Murray Dawson, Chair #AmazingAccrington Business Leaders Group & Managing Director of Scott Dawson Advertising Sara Britcliffe MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden Dr Sakthi Karunanithi MBBS M.D. MPH FFPH, Director of Public Health, Lancashire County Council - who will discuss the importance of wellbeing post-Covid Michele Lawty-Jones, Director of Lancashire Skills Hub (LEP) – to discuss future proofing the skills in the area Gareth Lindsay, Managing Director, North Lancs Training Group Amanda Melton CBE, Principal, Accrington & Rossendale College and Nelson & Colne College Collette King, HR Director, Studio - Hyndburn’s highly successful and largest business employing over 2,400 Tony Grimshaw OBE, Director of What More UK – who will discuss the manufacturing and export markets Heath Groves, Chief Executive Officer, Sundown Solutions – who will discuss how the opportunity for high tech jobs of the future starts at primary schools

The group wish to engage with all Hyndburn schools to ensure post-Covid we can give the best opportunity for future employment. If students have multiple encounters with employers while in education, not only does it significantly reduce the likelihood of unemployment, but it also means they are likely to earn more during their working lives.

90% of 15,025 surveyed teenagers agreed that work experience had helped them better understand why it is important to do well at school.

Sara Britcliffe, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, commented: “I am really happy to lend my support to this event, it’s so important to give our children the very best start to their working life and this starts with the schools. Employers are doing their bit to raise aspirations, and encourage children to work hard, gaining their best results and securing a strong, sustainable workforce of the future.”

Murray Dawson, Chair of Amazing Accrington, added “Now Covid restrictions are easing, the time was right to host another event and get people together to discuss this vital topic. Employer engagement with schools is so important to ensure a great future for Hyndburn. Our role as business leaders is also to ensure education matches future business needs.”

Heath Groves, Chief Executive Officer at Sundown Solutions, commented, “This is a fantastic initiative to be involved with. As a growing business and one that’s committed to the area, we want to help develop the skills of our young people in the community. We’re actively looking to recruit apprentice software developers, and we’re likely to need more in the coming weeks and months as the business continues to expand.”

The Lancashire Careers Hub are calling all Hyndburn employers to consider their recruitment needs and act now to create and promote apprenticeships, trainees and other opportunities. Businesses can publicise their vacancies on social media using the hashtags #inspiringlancashire and #upskillinglancashire.  

Businesses can also sign up for the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, a Government scheme to encourage young people to consider this route into work. You can find out more on https://engage.apprenticeships.gov.uk/aan. Several Hyndburn companies have pledged to support the scheme, including Sundown Solutions.