Member Article

New chair for leading North East careers initiative

A UNIQUE North East initiative which helps forge relationships between regional businesses and Sunderland young people has appointed a new chair.

Paul McEldon, Chief Executive of the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) has become chair of Work Discovery Sunderland and will be using his expertise to help the programme grow.

Work Discovery Sunderland is a year-long programme which involves more than 20 of the city’s secondary schools and includes guest speaker days, sector days which focus on specific growth industries for the city and Work Discovery Week.

Work Discovery Week 2016, which will take place from June 27 to July 1 for the fourth time,is an intensive five days of activities which includes workshops and practical demonstrations, a careers fair, Dragons’ Den style business challenges and visits to companies.

Mr McEldon’s work at the BIC has seen the organisation help create more than 6000 jobs and he believes working with Work Discovery Sunderland can help prepare the workforce of the next generation.

“Work Discovery Sunderland is a fantastic initiative which is now held up nationwide as a blueprint for bringing businesses and schools together,” he said.

“From the initial event in 2013 of a week of activities, it has grown into a year-long programme with more than 60 North East businesses of all sizes now involved in some way.”

“I am looking forward to becoming involved and helping Work Discovery Sunderland go from strength to strength.”

Mr McEldon will share the chairmanship with Howard Kemp, head teacher of Sunderland’s Farringdon Community Academy.

“We are delighted to have Paul on board and his expertise in working with businesses will be invaluable,” said Mr Kemp.

Paul replaces Gary Hutchinson, Commercial Director of SAFC, as co-chair, although the football club will continue to be a key partner in the programme and host the opening and closing days of Work Discovery Week 2016.

“Gary has done a fantastic job in helping Work Discovery Sunderland get to where it is,” said Paul.

“Under his leadership this has become an initiative that has been held up as an example of best practice nationwide.”

Work Discovery Sunderland was set up by Sunderland’s Economic Leadership Board Business Schools Task Group three years ago, to look at ways schools and businesses could work together.

The aim was to create relationships which would help create a skilled workforce of the future and to ensure young people across Sunderland were aware of the many opportunities available to them.

Any company wanting to get involved or who wants more information should contact Steph Rose at stephanie.rose@sunderland.gov.uk

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