LEP offers up-to-date information to help young people make better career choices

2.07.13

The Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has today launched its Leeds City Region Jobs Intel project - a new initiative to support teachers and careers advisers in providing up to date, evidence-based advice on labour market trends, and help young people make better informed career choices.

Addressing more than 200 careers professionals at a launch event this morning, Stephanie Burras, LEP Board Member and Chair of the Leeds City Region Employment and Skills Panel, said: “Our aim is to connect skills to the needs of the economy.

“At the moment there is a perceived mismatch between the career aims and choices of young people, and the real needs of the economy. Skills needs and prospects within key job sectors evolve constantly. More business engagement is needed in schools so that young people can find out what jobs will be available in the future and plan their careers accordingly.”

To help address these issues, the LEP has been working with employers over the past year to develop a suite of information resources that can be shared with young people, schools, parents and relevant providers to inform them about the opportunities available in key growth sectors and how to access them.

Beverly Parrish, Director of Waste at WSP UK and a member of the Employment and Skills Panel who has led the Jobs Intel work said:

“Using the latest intelligence, we are now able to share a host of information with the aim of helping young people make better informed choices about their future employment.

“The material we have developed, such as fact sheets and videos, offers real life information from apprentices and graduates talking about their jobs in key industries such as manufacturing and engineering.

“Nufarm UK in Bradford and Siemens Mechanical Drives in Leeds are a couple of the companies that have shared information about recruitment and selection processes and given tips on how to access current opportunities. These resources are now online and available to all.”

The Jobs Intelligence conference is a Leeds City Region LEP initiative aimed at sharing knowledge about jobs in the City Region, helping young people to make better informed choices and at the same time support the growth of key sectors, such as manufacturing, construction, creative and digital.

The information resources on key jobs sectors and careers in the Leeds City Region can be accessed at www.lcrjobsintel.co.uk