Member Article

Industry event to boost employability a great success

Over 550 pupils, parents and carers took part in an industry day to find out what skills local employers want from school leavers.

Organised by Business in the Community (BITC) on behalf of Barnsley Council, the ‘I Know I Can’ Industry day at Barnsley Metrodome, was a chance for teenagers to gain an insight into work and career opportunities in the surrounding area.

Pupils from schools across Barnsley met representatives from 30 local businesses including East Coast, Mondelez UK Confectionery Production Ltd, Gi Group, Barclays, Greencore Prepared Meals - and the National Careers Service.

Ged Mcinerney, a teacher at Holy Trinity, said: “The Industry Day has been invaluable for the pupils involved. It has made them aware of a range of new opportunities, and will help them to make better career and lifestyle choices.”

The event comes as research from the Chartered Management Institute revealed that only 40 per cent of young people have received useful careers advice in the past year.

Julia Matthews, senior HR business partner, Greencore Prepared Meals, said: “The ‘I Know I Can’ Industry Day provides a great insight to the resources available to students, schools and parents. It is a great opportunity to show students how they can transfer skills from their subjects into the working world.”

Cllr Tim Cheetham, Barnsley Council’s Cabinet spokesperson for People (Achieving Potential), said: “The IKIC Industry Day was put on to help young people make decisions about their futures, and I am pleased that so many, supported either by their school or parents and carers, attended. We had many positive comments from employers about how engaged with the event the young people were, so we are proud of how they represented themselves and the borough.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Business In the Community .