Blacktown: Closing the Gap between the Classroom and the Workplace
Over 100representatives from Business, Government, High Schools, TAFE, and UWS from the Blacktown region, came together to hear about how one of the UK’s largest employers is working to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workforce.
The concept is called ‘Work Inspiration’ and provides young people with an insight into the world of work and helps them decide which career they want to pursue. British Telecom (BT) is determined to use the initiative to change the way young people think about work as well as the wayBT offer work placements.
The event was organised by Blacktown Regional Economic and Employment Development (BREED) Taskforce and was the only Western Sydney forum, following on from the National Youth Attainment and Transition Conference that took place in Sydney last week. Guests also heard from Nathan Burbridge, Blacktown City Council’s new Economic Development Manager. The event is a forerunner to a series of briefing events for Business that will take place in Blacktown early in 2012.
Guest Speaker, Mick Keay, BT Project Director for Work Inspiration, said that, “BT has worked with 3000 young people to improve their work experience placements this year and will increase that number for 2012.The results have been astounding for all involved, Parents, Teachers, Employers, and our own BT employees”.
“Our own employees tell us being involved in Work Inspiration is tremendous for them too. Not only does it develop their communication, presentation and project management skills, it also stimulates them to develop a more detailed understanding of BT and the wider business world. BT is now looking to expand the program into previously unforeseen areas of: young offenders, injured soldiers, and mature unemployed”, Mick added.
The Work Inspiration campaign, which BT developed in conjunction with Business in The Community, addresses two critical needs:
1) The business needs for employable recruits; we can improve the standard of these recruits by engaging earlier with the future workforce.
2) The societal need to provide young people with a clearer picture of work, to equip them to make decisions about their future career paths and increase their employability.
Stephen Frost, BREED Managing Director, said that ‘the session was a great success with positive feedback from Business as well as the Educational sector. We all have two major objectives, and they are to reduce the massive 19% Youth Unemployment rate (2010 ABS) in our region, and to meet the needs of Business, by ensuring our young people are ‘work ready’ and have the skills needed to meet current and future skill shortages ‘head on’. We all need to act now and work together; we all have much to gain or to lose.”
BREED will be running a number of Business forums early in 2012 to discuss how to roll out the ‘Work Inspiration’ program in the Blacktown Region and throughout Western Sydney. If you would like to be involved or want to know more, please contact Stephen Frost Ph. 9853 3200 or email sfrost@nirimba.com.au