Member Article

New co-chair for unique North East education initiative

SUNDERLAND’S trailblazing initiative which aims to boost the employability of the city’s young people has a new co-chair to help drive the scheme forward.

Work Discovery Sunderland, which has been operating for more than five years, brings together the city’s schools and the region’s top businesses to help build better relationships and give young people a real insight into the job opportunities available to them.

And now Richard Carr, Head of School at Sunderland’s Sandhill View Academy, will be playing a more active role in the future of Work Discovery Sunderland, after taking up the position of co-chair.

Mr Carr, who shares the chairmanship with Paul McEldon of North East BIC, is following in the footsteps of Howard Kemp, head of Farrington Community Academy, who has now retired.

“I am a very strong advocate of raising the aspirations among students through Work Discovery Sunderland and its wide range of initiatives and opportunities,” he said.

“Work Discovery Sunderland is both important and unique. It is important to schools in that it enables a link and close working partnership between them and employers, along with professionals from a range of sectors.

“The vast array of events and specially tailored experiences benefits our students by exposing them to life beyond schools and to highlight to them the qualities and attributes future employers are looking for.”

Mr Carr, who has been Head of School at Sandhill View Academy for three years, believes Work Discovery Sunderland can build on its past success and “deliver even more initiatives that help us meet the needs of employers and inform students.”

“I look forward to continuing the work and seeing how much our students from across the city and businesses from across the North East benefit from Work Discovery Sunderland.”

Paul McEldon said he was delighted that Richard had agreed to support the initiative.

“Having the support of the schools is a vital part of Work Discovery Sunderland and Richard will be able to help us with that,” he said.

“He has already shown how passionate he is about what we do and he is going to be a huge asset to the organisation.”

Work is already underway for the 2018 calendar of events, which includes a number of specific sector days and Work Discovery Week 2018, which will run from 25 – 29 June 2018.

The week has already won support from a number of major sponsors, including MAKE IT Sunderland, Sunderland College, the University of Sunderland, the Bridges, Gentoo, Liebherr, Nissan and Calsonic Kansei.

Work Discovery Sunderland is also supported by Sunderland City Council, SAFC and North East of England Chamber of Commerce.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available, for further details call Sorted PR on 0191 265 6111 or email info@sortedpr.com

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