New campaign aims to inspire young peoples career choices

Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership is launching a new campaign to inspire young people in making decisions about future jobs.

Future Goals, a high profile careers campaign designed by young people for young people, teachers and parents launches on 26 February 2018, a week before National Careers and Apprenticeship Week, and aims to raise awareness of career opportunities in the City Region’s key sectors.

The campaign aims to address current and future skills shortages in manufacturing and engineering, construction and infrastructure and digital industries. In 2017, more than 60,000 online vacancies were advertised across these sectors, however it’s estimated that more than 40 per cent of vacancies in Yorkshire are difficult to fill due to a lack of candidates with the right skills.

Young people aged 10 to 25 years old from across the City Region played a central part in designing the campaign, taking part in a series of workshops to share what would inspire, motivate and encourage them to learn more about the jobs and career paths on their doorstep.

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said:

“It’s great to see a campaign designed for young people, by young people which offers a wealth of useful support and resources to help inspire them to make informed decisions about their future.

“With over 41,000 digital job vacancies advertised last year, billions of pounds planned to be spent on construction projects and plans to become leaders in Light and High Speed Rail engineering, Leeds City Region is an exciting hub for young people to enter employment.

“It’s crucial that we invest time and effort into giving young people the best possible chance in gaining the skills and experience needed to achieve their future goals which will in turn, boost the local economy.

“The City Region’s young people should feel proud of where they live, learn and play and I hope this campaign will teach them about the exciting opportunities available to them in the future.”

Digital is just one of the City Region’s key expanding sectors and a recent Leeds
City Region Business Survey highlights the importance and demand for digital skills across many sectors, with businesses quickly realising the benefits of adopting digital techniques to enhance traditional methods of working.

Rashik Palmer MBE, Chair of Employment and Skills Panel and IBM Technical Executive Europe said:

"Digital technologies now touch almost all aspects of our lives for every individual, and provides careers that can affect the lives of everyone around the world.

“The digital industry is growing rapidly with new technologies regularly emerging. It’s an exciting time to get involved and I urge all young people to learn digital skills, whatever their aspirations may be as digital technology is now part of so many jobs within the Leeds City Region.”

The campaign will also address the gender imbalance in the City Regions key sectors, providing valuable resources for girls looking to pursue a career in traditionally male sectors.

Peter Duffy, Managing Director at civil engineering contractors, Peter Duffy Ltd said:

“Construction has traditionally been a male orientated sector and there is probably a perception that it still is however, the sector is busy trying to change this and make people aware of the diverse, exciting and well paid careers and opportunities there are for both girls and boys.

“I hope this campaign will inspire both girls and boys to enter a career in construction.”

Over the next few months, Enterprise Coordinators from the LEP will work closely with employers and Young Apprenticeship Ambassadors to deliver inspiring lessons and assemblies in secondary schools throughout the City Region. Vital links between education and business will be deepened, ensuring young people have the awareness of the careers opportunities available to create their own Future Goals.

Teachers, parents, carers and young people can find out more and download resources by visiting www.the-lep.com/futuregoals