I'm going back to school

What are your priorities for 2023? One of mine – and very high on my list – is to engage with headteachers at the great secondary schools across our region.

I really want to start a dialogue about skills with them. It’s what employers have told me they need.

It’s what I’m truly passionate about as director of skills and innovation at Burnley College.

Embedding vital skills early has never been more important. Helping our young people – the next generation of professionals – make links between subjects they study at school; important skills they can develop and the amazing careers they can enjoy is crucial for the future of business.

It’s important we help our young people make those connections – and that can start at both primary school and secondary school.

Here’s an example …

I had the privilege of talking to an amazing young man and his parents at one of our recent Year 11 open events. He was working hard towards his GCSEs and was determined to be an engineer. Music to my ears, as a former engineer and passionate about our offer at the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Excellence at Burnley College.

As we toured the facilities, he told me – very eloquently – that his career goal was to be a digital engineer. One of those talented, innovative individuals who combine the best digital skills with the problem-solving expertise of engineering.

He’d be using the latest technologies to support digitalisation in engineering and manufacturing - and more – to provide engineering solutions to the most challenging and complex problems.

After our tour of engineering, we headed straight to computer science where he, ironically, will start his journey in engineering. It’ll be coding and programming that will be the foundations of his career. engineering studies will follow.

More and more, as we stride towards a bright new future, our young people will need to expand and combine skills. It’s up to us to empower them to make these connections and support employers in recruiting the multi-skilled – the highly-skilled – individuals needed to ensure Lancashire remains at the forefront of innovation and business success.