Stoke and Staffordshire Careers Hub invites new members and celebrates rising stars

Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Career Hub is taking the opportunity to celebrate over 30 nominations for local careers champions as sought by the Careers and Enterprise Company (@CareerEnt), whilst also inviting local schools and businesses to become a part of the thriving Hub.

The district is shining a light on all the hard work these individuals have done throughout the pandemic, enhancing career opportunities for young people and promoting organic growth for local businesses.

The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Careers Hub is a four district cluster of 82 secondary schools and colleges working together with our partners in the business, public, education and voluntary sectors to deliver and implement the Gatsby benchmarks (Internationally recognised blue print for careers best practice). The Hub, which is part of the Local Enterprise Partnership, and the schools and colleges with which it works, have a shared vision of how they will work together to improve outcomes for the young people in their area and work together to share best practice.

All schools, colleges and businesses in the area can be a part of the Careers Hub, and being a member can have exponential benefits. Educational Institutions looking to join the hub network  will have direct access to organisations offering opportunities to young people, while local businesses can recruit from a pool of the best homegrown young talents that Stoke and Staffordshire has to offer.

The Stoke and Staffordshire Careers Hub is one of a national network around the country, which is overseen by the Department of Education funded Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC). These hubs have been set up to inspire and prepare young people for the fast changing world of work. Over lockdown, the CEC has teamed up with the Gatsby Foundation to shine a light on Careers Champions, who work tirelessly for the benefit of young people and who often go unsung for their efforts.

During National Careers Week the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Careers Hub had over 30 recognitions  for its hardworking Careers Champions, falling into a number of categories including ‘leading the way’, ‘innovating’, ‘connecting with education’ and ‘tackling disadvantage’.  The CEC celebrations provide a brilliant opportunity for these diligent individuals to be recognised at a national level.

Paul Williams, Careers Hub and Network Manager at the Careers Hub, said:

“It was fantastic to see so many nominations for the celebration of our careers champions. They have worked tirelessly during the pandemic to ensure that our young people receive the best possible careers provision, and their tenacity and determination continues to support our young people into positive destinations.”

Marie Yates, Regional Lead for the Careers and Enterprise Company, said:

“In partnership with the Gatsby Foundation the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) recently recognised a number of Careers Champions across England. It was exciting to see several nominations from Stoke & Staffordshire that highlighted the proactive careers-focused work of school staff, employers and young people, supported by the Careers Hub Team.”

Alun Rogers, Chair of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP, said:

“The Careers Hub, and the LEP of which is a part, is at the heart of a wider partnership effort which seeks to upskill local people so that local businesses have an ongoing supply of highly skilled, home grown talent. The important work undertaken by the Careers Hub is vital to our region and community, and will allow the mutually beneficial outcome of our people and our businesses to thrive.”

If you are a representative for a local school or college, or a local business owner, there are a vast amount of mutual benefits you could enjoy from being involved with Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Careers Hub. As the Government seeks to support SMEs and tackle low employment rates post-pandemic, the Careers Hub can put tenacious potential employees in touch with innovative local businesses.