'Collaboration is the key'

10:27am Monday 23rd June 2008

BUSINESSES have been asked to "collaborate" with schools and colleges to produce a high quality future workforce.

At a meeting between education and business leaders at Colchester Institute, Nick Hammond, co-ordinator of the Colchester 14-19 Area Planning Group, which works to encourage youngsters to train and work, told more than 50 guests: "We have genuinely got to collaborate if we want to deliver."

A similar event also took place Frinton Tennis Club, where 50 businesses were told about the importance of business and education working together to achieve the same aim.

The focus of the Colchester event was to generate commitment among businesses to give their time to mentor, offer work placements to students, work alongside schools on subjects and projects and sit on the board of governors, so schools can benefit from their expertise.

Mr Hammond said "Education is not just about what happens in the classroom. The Government wants young people to be engaged in industry and commerce. They need to come outside the classroom and get a different experience and skills.

"It's about focusing what we need from you," he told businesses, "what students will need from you and what we can do to help you. It is not just about education taking from you. We are a partnership. It's about young people working for companies and making those companies successful."

Mr Hammond said the biggest change in education will be the new diplomas, which will include English, Maths and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and described as "functional skills" that will link academic theory with practical experience.

In Colchester, three main diplomas will be introduced in 2009 - engineering and construction and the built environment, creative and media and hospitality.

In Frinton, The Tendring 14-19 Planning Group heard that training and skills is not a "one way process."

Mark Seward, director of business and enterprise at Tendring Technology College in Frinton, said: "We think we can offer a lot of benefits by working together, for the future.

"There needs to be more between business and education."

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