Teachers swap whiteboards for workplace visits on ground-breaking scheme

Teachers from Lancashire swapped whiteboards for workplace visits for the day, thanks to an inspirational Lancashire scheme.

The 'Northern World of Work' programme sees pupils and teachers from secondary schools including special schools and alternative providers visiting workplaces and discovering the array of job opportunities available locally. 

The Lancashire-wide Teacher Encounter programme, funded by the Careers and Enterprise Company, Lancashire County Council and the Youth Futures Foundation with BiTC, is being delivered by the Lancashire Careers Hub, in partnership with schools and employers across the county during this academic year.

As part of the scheme, teachers from Blackburn College, The Heights in Burnley, Lancaster & Morecambe College, Sir Tom Finney Community High School and Lathom High School visited UK housebuilder 'Keepmoat' for the day in Leyland at the end of January, along with councillors, businesses and teachers.

This meant they got a first-hand insight into working practices, and met young employees, including apprentices, in order to better advise their pupils.

County Councillor Jayne Rear, cabinet member for Education and Skills, and County Councillor Ash Sutcliffe also visited 'Keepmoat' along with the teachers.

County Councillor Ash Sutcliffe said:"We found out more about the pathways and opportunities that are being provided to allow pupils to ultimately build their skills and to see what they could do in the world of work.

"These teacher visits enable educators to engage directly with employers to see and learn about the different career pathways relevant to their subjects and observe how their subject is applied practically in business."

County Councillor Jayne Rear said: "This is a very good scheme which is helping staff and students gain a deeper understanding of opportunities as well as the skills needed for different roles and awareness of different pathways and routes into work.

"Taking place just before the Convention of the North in Preston at the end of this month, the 'Northern World of Work' programme is inspiring young people and educators about the plethora of job opportunities in the local labour market and creating further investment in Lancashire for the benefit of businesses and residents in the future."

Peter Barlow, regional managing director at Keepmoat, North West said:“It’s been brilliant to work with our fantastic partners at Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire Careers Hub to support local teachers in their role, to advise young people about careers in the home building sector and the skills needed to thrive in the industry.

“We’re particularly proud to support this initiative and continue our work creating a future pipeline of talented young people entering the workforce.

"The construction industry needs to recruit a further 950,000 extra workers by 2030 to keep up with growing demand.

"Providing these insight days has many benefits for our business and the teachers, but more importantly for the young people that will form the workforce of the future.

“It was also extremely valuable for team Keepmoat to chat to local teachers about the broad variety of roles available in the housebuilding sector, away from site specific roles relevant to their subjects, and how their subject is applied practically in business, along with the different career pathways.

“We look forward to working with additional schools in the area.”