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North East LEP launches North East Ambition

Every student at every school and college in the North East will have access to world-leading careers guidance as part of a new initiative by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.

North East Ambition, launching on Friday 14 July, will support North East schools and colleges in the region to adopt, implement and achieve the Good Career Guidance benchmarks; eight clearly defined benchmarks for high quality careers education that improve students’ transition from school to work by appropriately preparing them for their next stage.

A key part of the North East LEP’s refreshed strategic economic plan, North East Ambition follows the hugely successful Good Career Guidance benchmarks pilot, which saw sixteen schools and colleges in the North East LEP area trial the implementation of the benchmarks identified by Sir John Holman and the Gatsby Foundation.

Michelle Rainbow, Skills Director at the North East LEP said:

North East Ambition is about ensuring every single student in the North East can make fully informed decisions about their futures and identify routes into a successful working life.

We want to create 100,000 more and better jobs by 2024 and improving access to employment or training for our region’s young people is key to making that happen.

North East Ambition will support all students, including those who are the most vulnerable and those with special educational needs. This initiative brings education, business and other stakeholders together to deliver effective and innovative careers education fit for the 21st Century.

North East Ambition builds on the success of the Good Career Guidance benchmarks pilot in the North East LEP region, which has been recognised nationally as ‘transformational’. Improving outcomes for all young people, regardless of their starting points or backgrounds, and inspiring pioneering practice in schools and colleges, the pilot has gained significant national traction.

North East Ambition will ensure all schools and colleges across the North East can benefit from adopting the benchmarks.

The launch event on Friday 14 July will hear from Andrew Hodgson, Chair of the North East LEP, Michelle Rainbow, Skills Director at the North East LEP and leading figures from education and business.

Michelle continued:

As well as sharing best practice and examples from the Good Career Guidance benchmarks pilot, we’ll also be looking at current labour market trends and intelligence, the practical support and resources available to help schools and colleges deliver North East Ambition and the latest guidance on careers education.

We want to inspire schools, colleges, other stakeholders and the business community to join us in transforming the quality of careers provision across our region and ensuring a brighter future for all of our young people.

The launch of North East Ambition takes place at Crowne Plaza Newcastle on Friday 14 July. Attendance is free and places can be booked online.