Skills programme back to bolster North East employability

Building My Skills, founded more than 10 years ago by Esh Construction and Ryder and Arup, has relaunched

During the last two years, students from across the North East have adapted to new ways of learning as schools and colleges adhered to the unpredictable changes that the COVID-19 pandemic imposed.

With remote learning becoming the new norm for teachers and students alike, reducing disruption within the core curriculum was paramount and delivering quality careers education became more challenging. The Careers & Enterprise Company revealed a notable decline in employer engagement opportunities and schools struggled to achieve the Gatsby benchmarks.

However, the easing COVID restrictions have seen a return to face-to-face student engagement and business collaboration. For 2022’s National Careers Week, a group of North East businesses have joined forces to re-introduce the award-winning employability programme, Building My Skills (BMS).

Founded more than 10 years ago by Esh Construction and Ryder and Arup, the careers information and employability skills programme has relaunched, with the support of OneVoice - a regional collaboration which seeks to drive positive change in the construction industry.

The 2022 programme sees long-serving business partners return and an influx of new businesses join to deliver quality careers guidance to over 1,900 students, with Sunderland schools Castle View Enterprise Academy, Southmoor Academy, and St Robert of Newminster Catholic School signed up for this academic year.

Year 10, 11 and Sixth Form students will receive three timetabled workshops and an interview and opportunities day will round off the programme in June. During these workshops, business speakers offer an insight into their sector and career pathways.

While sessions aim to raise aspirations and change perceptions of certain careers, checkpoint tasks in leadership, business, design and creativity, technology and productivity, will allow students to build up their employability portfolio.

Darush Dodds, Corporate Affairs Director at Esh Construction, said: “Since its conception, BMS has provided over 2,000 free, high-quality workshops to over 50,000 students. The combination of the pandemic subsiding, revived interest from long-standing business partners and the chance to partner with OneVoice provided the perfect opportunity to relaunch our new model ahead of a full roll out from September.

“Programmes which bring together business and education are integral in helping students make informed decisions about their future and develop employability skills that all employers value.”

To bolster the programme, which is being delivered by 24 business speakers, a digital platform has been developed to enhance the student experience and engage a much larger digital cohort. Participants can access programme resources and make use of additional materials which include advice and experiences of young people employed in partner workplaces.

Nik Turner, Executive Director Believe Housing and Chair of OneVoice People Group, said: “BMS provides a perfect opportunity for young people to gain valuable insight into the fabulous opportunities that construction provides. Our sector is exciting, innovative, and ever evolving; we hope to utilise BMS as the conduit between industry and students, to showcase the varied roles we offer and to become the sector of choice for young people taking the first steps on their career paths.”

Returning business partners include Accenture, North Wealth Management, North East Times, Mediaworks, Lloyds Bank and Turner & Townsend, while new partners include Northumbrian Water Group, Bowmer & Kirkland, Gleeds and Believe Housing. All businesses will be part of the interview and opportunities day later in the year where 300 interviews will be arranged and further opportunities offered in the form of workplace visits, work experience, apprenticeships and jobs.

Planning is now underway to expand into Tees Valley and roll out the programme into more schools for the next academic year. If you are a business looking to get involved in delivery, or a school who would be interested in joining, visit https://buildingmyskills.education for more information.