Member Article

Aspire hands over to 14-19 Commission

The North East 14-19 Commission is set to take forward the Aspire campaign to foster a long term impact on the lives of young people in the North East.

The 14-19 Commission evolved out of the 14-19 Task Group earlier this year involving the Learning and Skills Council, One NorthEast and Government Office North East. The aim of the Task Group was to provide a forum to help young people develop skills and specialisms.

The NECC and CBI is handing over the responsibility to carry forward the work done by Aspire with local employers in raising the aspirations of the region’s young people.

A wide variety of research and case studies has been developed by Aspire to forge better understanding between businesses and young people, which will be given to the 14-19 Commission. An online diagnostic tool for employers will also be shared, which will continue Aspire’s work to promote the regional intermediary organisations that exist to help businesses link with the education system.

Maggie Pavlou, president of the North East Chamber of Commerce and current chair of Aspire, said: “Aspire was an early pioneer in setting the regional agenda for business engagement in raising the career aspirations of young people. “It was the first completely business-led campaign that brought the issue of raising youth aspirations to the regional economic agenda before any other area of the UK.

“The time is now right to embed the principles and good practice of Aspire within the larger regional context and the 14-19 Commission will benefit greatly from its research and campaign activities across the last few years.”

Sarah Green, regional director of the CBI in the North East said, “The 14-19 Commission will become an important regional co-ordinating body, so the body of work done by Aspire to date will be a valuable platform for continuing employer and youth issues in the region.

“It is important that the Aspire key objectives take on a higher profile within the mainstream agencies in light of the Governmental agenda; and that is why the newly created 14-19 Commission is ideally placed to take it forward.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .