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Groundbreaking Work-Related Learning Programmes Could Transform School Curriculum for Young People

23/09/2008

"In time, this programme could transform and enhance the traditional curriculum setting a new benchmark for developing a flexible and dynamic workforce for the UK."

NESTA announces three groundbreaking work-related educational programmes which will help equip young people for the future world of work. Developed in partnership with the Department for Children, Schools and Families these projects could shape new approaches to work related learning in the curriculum.

The programmes launched across some schools in the UK will expose 14-19 year olds to sectors representing the most innovative growth areas of the economy - the creative industries, the third sector and the rural economy. As part of this, young people will work closely with local businesses to get ‘real-time' experience of entrepreneurship and innovation.

The programmes - Connexions in Cheshire and Warrington; Future Foundations in Greater London and Real Ideals based in Devon, Bristol and Cornwall have been developed by local employers, schools and young people. They will be involved in authentic business experiences such as pitching for work, negotiating and communicating and delivering products and services to deadlines.

The launch is on the back of a report ‘Delivering Work-Related Learning For an Innovation Nation', also published today by NESTA and the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, which helped to inform the design of the programmes. As part of the programmes, the report also called on businesses to work more closely with schools.

Jonathan Kestenbaum, NESTA's Chief Executive commented:

"Career pathways are going to be less straightforward, with people having a series of different jobs in their lifetime. This programme is vital in showing young people how they could set up a small business at school or help a small firm locally to resolve marketing dilemmas. In time, this programme could transform and enhance the traditional curriculum setting a new benchmark for developing a flexible and dynamic workforce for the UK."

Tom Hadfield, a young entrepreneur and member of NESTA's Innovation Programmes Committee added:

"Reading, writing and arithmetic, are no longer enough when young people are setting out on their careers today. The report shows us clearly that experiencing being part of a small business, and learning entrepreunial and innovation skills are critical factors in the world of work today. Schools have an important part to play working with local businesses and we are very excited about these new programmes."

Contact:

NESTA spokespeople are available for comment and interview. Please contact our press office on +44 (0) 2074382608 or +44 (0) 2074382643

Notes to editors

About the Work-Related Learning Programmes

The three programmes are: Connexions Cheshire and Warrington; Future Foundations in Greater London and Real Ideals based in Devon, Bristol and Cornwall.

Connexions Cheshire and Warrington will allow employers made up of the Corporate and Public Sector, SMEs and Sole traders from the Creative Industries to work as a network for carrying out Creative Courses aimed at 14-19 year olds in the local area. The courses will involve live work projects on a ‘commissioned' basis with authentic business interactions.

Future Foundations in Greater London will develop a new approach for work related learning that is created and managed by young people, and will help third sector organisations. University students and school pupils will work together in flexible project teams that will work remotely through online portals to set up their own third sector organisations.

Real Ideas based in Devon, Bristol and Cornwall is a partnership with Kingsbridge Community College in south Devon; Brislington School in Bristol; and Eye 2 Eye, a young photographic agency in Cornwall.

Together they will each identify groups of 14 to 18 year olds to work with NESTA and industry partners Matt Pontin, a freelance photographer developing a social enterprise; and Spike Island, a design business incubator in Bristol operating as a social enterprise.

The partnership will build online and physical marketplaces for the small scale products and services the young people will develop. It will also develop a marketing toolkit for young creative social entrepreneurs and a work related learning programme for creative social enterprises.

About the Report

‘Delivering Work-Related Learning For an Innovation Nation' argues that in a rapidly changing economy and society, Work Related Learning needs to help young people learn as much about the future as the present world of work.

New jobs will be differently structured and are most likely to be found in innovative growth areas of the economy. This is as true of the third sector or public sector as the private sector.

The report looks at three innovative growth sectors in the UK's economy. The Creative Industries has grown by 6 per cent per year between 1997 and 2005 and is the largest creative economy in the European Union in terms of GDP; the Third Sector consists of an estimated 170,000 registered charities in England and Wales with combined revenues of over £44.5 billion and the Rural Economy is currently experiencing a period of intense challenges, stimulating the development of new products, processes, services and business models.