Festive Focus: Bdaily speaks to Aspire-igen Group's chief executive

Can you introduce yourself and your business to our readers?

“My name is Caroline Harrison and I am proud to be the chief executive of the Aspire-igen Group.

“We are a social enterprise with the strategic aim of supporting the regeneration of the Yorkshire and Humber region.

“Although our head office is the former historic Bradford Chamber of Commerce building, we operate right across the region through our established network of Opportunity Centres and Aspire2Work Skills Centres, to help people improve their lives through learning and work.

“We offer free vocational training programmes for those aged 16+ designed to fill local skills gaps identified by our colleagues in our regions’ LEPS.

“We offer independent, impartial careers advice in our centres -  and also in our schools, through our ‘Shine’ service. We offer support to adults who struggle to access the labour markets.

“We work with partners across the Europe and beyond to develop the very best policy and guidance standards for the UK as a whole.”

What was your company’s biggest achievement of the year?

“Our social impact is massive, and we are proud to work with many local partners.

“This year, we have been delighted to work with Bradford Chamber to coordinate the inaugural Bradford Manufacturing Week, which resulted in 2,582 employer encounters, including taster days, employer visits and inspirational talks for schoolchildren in the Bradford district…

“[This raised] awareness of the opportunities available in this vibrant sector.”

How would you approach 2018 differently, given the chance?

“Given the chance, I’d have loved to have handcuffed Roger Marsh and dragged him to one of our many Future Jobs events in the Leeds City Region in 2018.

“The outcomes for young people were amazing. There have been blockages in the system, and our region still has tens of millions of pounds worth of funding that has not been commissioned.

“I wish I had been able to get someone out to look at what was taking place and get it higher up the list of priorities.”   What are your company’s plans for the new year?

“So, what next? We are always looking for new ways to support economic growth and skills development.

“We are looking to develop the Careers Yorkshire and the Humber brand to support many more people - particularly in coastal areas and rural North Yorkshire.

“We are also delighted that Sir Gary Verity has agreed to open Aspire-igen’s Scarborough Jobs Fair in March, which we hope will pull together businesses with talented individuals looking to work in the area.”

What’s your favourite Christmas song?

“The Pogue’s Fairytale of New York does it for me every year. I am also partial to a bit of Michael Buble whilst we open our presents on Christmas morning.”

Aspire-igen Group is a member of Welcome to Yorkshire’s Y30 Club of Yorkshire-based business partners

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