People & Skills

Ryedale School Group partnered with Karro Foods through the Enterprise Adviser role to raise awareness of the apprenticeship pathway and wider opportunities available to young people within the Food Industry.

Karro gave a briefing session at school, as part of a post-16 evening, which focused on educating year 10 and 11 students and parents about Apprenticeships (what they are and how they work), signposting them to several different information sources (government websites, Tasty Careers website etc.) and also offering a brief insight into the scale of the UK food industry, its’ value to the UK economy and of its global standing.  

The students learned more about the Karro Food Group and the vast array of roles required to successfully run a large business, a true ‘farm to fork’ learning experience. Students explored all pathways open to them at the same time, including college pathways etc.

Impact:

As a result of this evening, students were able to leave with a better understanding of the type of apprenticeship opportunities that may be available to them within and outside of the food industry, and many questions were generated from parents and students regarding ‘how’ to get access to companies that may be taking on apprentices.

Appropriate signposting and advice on the routes to achieving careers through apprenticeships was provided and individuals requested a personal visit/experience at Karro Food premises to better understand the local opportunities and how they relate to the student’s interests. 

Quotes:

“It is essential that we take the time to inspire our future generation. It is fundamental that young people are exposed to a variety of post-16 pathways, from the conventional college route, right through to vocational routes. This must include in-depth information around apprenticeships.

Karro has enabled us to ensure that our students learn more about the vast array of roles available as apprenticeships, and the levels at which they can be studied. I think many students were surprised to learn that this could take them to the equivalent of a degree level.

It has been resounded throughout Ryedale School, that Karro being able to offer an apprenticeship talk on this evening was a huge benefit to all involved.“

D.Wallis (Associate Assistant Head Teacher at Ryedale School)

“After your recent apprenticeship talk at Ryedale School, I would like to accept your invitation to have a look around Karro Foods to learn more about food science and help decide about pursuing a career in this field” 

(Student at Ryedale School).

“It is fundamental that we take the time to inspire our future generation, as they are the key to ensuring that the UK Food Industry remains a significant player in the global marketplace.  It is always a pleasure to talk to young people, to be able to listen to their views on the food industry, and to better understand how to relate their experience of education and access to local employers to provide relevant work experience and apprenticeship opportunities.  

Helping teachers, parents and students alike to learn more about the vast array of roles we have in our industry and the speed at which we must move to keep pace with our customer’s needs really opened their eyes to not only the complexity of our operations, but also to be able to see how their interests and skills can align with what we do and the different career pathways that are available to them.”

(Danni Leggatt, Group L&D Manager, Karro Food Group.)

In order that schools can provide the best careers education for their students, it is vital they engage the local business community.

This enables our young people to make sense of their learning in terms of the world of work ahead of them and make more informed choices about their next steps into further learning or employment.

In a pilot project led by the YNY Careers Hub over 50 teaching staff and a number of businesses were hosted by Anglo American in Scarborough for a ‘speed networking’ event to focus on how to effectively work together to support school careers programmes. School Staff were also able to quiz businesses on the current skills employers are looking for and the range of careers on offer in the local area.

The schools reported that they came away from the event not only with a better understanding of the huge range of career opportunities including apprenticeships available in Scarborough but with a better understanding of how to approach and work with a business and incorporate careers into their lessons.

In January 2021 York & North Yorkshire LEP and The Careers and Enterprise Company hosted a virtual careers and skills information event to prepare young people for their next steps in education and the workplace.

The event was hosted in response to requests from schools for greater support for their Year 11,12 & 13 students and Career Leaders, parents, and carers. The event show cased key sectors, highlighting transferable skills across a huge range of different careers and opportunities. A range of inspirational options for gaining work experience were presented with input from local employers such as, NHS, FERA, LNER, Kier Construction, Nestlé as well as representatives from the Maritime industry. 32 schools participated and an impressive 5000 ‘live views’ and ‘2000’ on demand views were recorded. York & North Yorkshire LEP | Learn Live | Contact Us Today (learnliveuk.com)

Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW) increases the skill levels of employees in small and medium sized enterprises and micro businesses across our area’s priority growth sectors.

It also supports sole traders, who represent a significant proportion of the area’s overall workforce.

The programme helps to improve progression at work and productivity by addressing skills gaps through tailored training, including nationally recognised qualifications.

Here, two businesses share the impact and positive experience of engaging with Skills Support for the Workforce training provision:

https://ssw.fundingunit.org.uk/case-study-business-growth-thanks-to-digital-training/ 

https://ssw.fundingunit.org.uk/case-study-open-thinking-helps-unlock-new-business-ideas/ 

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The Kickstart Scheme has been a boost to the morale and productivity of young people and businesses across York and North Yorkshire.

Open to businesses of all sizes and sectors, the government-funded scheme opens up six-month placements for 16–24 year olds, allowing them to gain valuable work experience, and allowing businesses to receive the support they need in unprecedented times.

This short video features Katie - a new Kickstart staff member and her experience working for Pioneer Projects in North Yorkshire.

Thriving at Work aims to support more people to thrive at work.

It has a particular focus on supporting inclusive workplaces that can unlock the potential of staff who are neurodiverse, disabled or experience mental health challenges. This video features Esther from St Nick’s, a delivery partner in the Thriving at Work programme, as she talks about the benefits to businesses who have taken part.

T Levels have been designed to prepare students age 16-18 with the technical skills local businesses need now and in the future.

They combine classroom studies with an industry placement, based on employer designed standards. The new two year technical Level 3 qualification provides the knowledge and experience needed for the learner to progress into skilled employment, further study or a higher apprenticeship.

Hear from some of the employers and young people already benefiting from Industry Placements:

Netsells

TJ Hobson

A new million pound education hub will open in Northallerton later this year bringing new learning opportunities into the heart of the market town.

The project heralds the start of a unique partnership between Hambleton District Council, the University of Sunderland and York College – providing a range of courses at the Campus@Northallerton (C@N).

Currently students living in Hambleton have to travel out of the district to access further and higher education – many don’t return leaving a significant void when it comes to filling jobs.

C@N is based in one of the five listed buildings on Treadmills – the former Northallerton Prison site which is being transformed into a retail, business and leisure complex.  

“This new partnership is a first for us – we have not delivered education provision before and to be working with two institutions with great reputations is very exciting,” said Council Leader, Councillor Mark Robson.

“It will give local people and businesses access to a wide range of learning opportunities, right on their doorsteps.  Currently they need to travel out of Hambleton for this – but with C@N they will be able to study in our county town and businesses will be able to access highly skilled local people.  

“It’s a very exciting new step in the district council’s economic recovery plan and we are delighted to be working with the University of Sunderland and York College.”

Sir David Bell, Vice Chancellor of the University of Sunderland added: “We are looking forward to working with Hambleton District Council and York College on this innovative project.

“At the University of Sunderland, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to reach their full potential and are always looking at new ways to support this ambition.   Such a partnership has the potential to address a challenge faced by many areas – opening up learning opportunities to the whole community, while retaining valuable skills and positively impacting the local economy.”

And Louise Doswell, Deputy Chief Executive & Principal (Partnerships & Development) at York College, said: “The partnership has facilitated the development of a much needed further education learning environment, that will offer employers and individuals skills development opportunities to enable personal and business growth.

“Without the investment from the LEP and the district council, the York College and University of Sunderland partnership would not have been able to offer the range of learning in the Hambleton area this development will afford us. We are looking forward to opening our campus building in September 2021.”

The new education hub is expected to focus initially on digital skills – with details of the curriculum currently being finalised.  It will feature face to face and blended learning as well as offer opportunities for employers to explore training and development solutions including apprenticeships and Higher Education qualifications.

It will be based in the prison’s former tenement building – which was used to house staff and office accommodation. And it will work alongside C4DI (Centre for Digital Innovation) which opens next month offering business space to help tech companies grow and traditional businesses innovate – the 24 / 7 co-working, meeting and collaboration incubator space will create a community of specialists, giving access to technical skills and expertise.

C@N has benefitted from £675,000 allocated by the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership from the Government’s Getting Building Fund, with the remainder of the £1.1million cost funded by the District Council.

Helen Simpson OBE, Chair of the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “This is an excellent project which opens up so many learning opportunities for people and businesses in the area, and will certainly boost economic growth. It also supports the region’s ambition to be a greener, fairer, stronger place as it emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic.”

ENDS

Original press release from Hambleton District Council.

Further information about the Getting Building Fund and Northern Powerhouse.

Two North Yorkshire colleges are to benefit from funding to provide electric vehicle training.

York College and Scarborough TEC will receive money secured by the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership from the government’s Getting Building Fund.  News of funding for the green schemes coincides with today’s (8) Clean Air Day, which promotes improved air quality across the UK.

York College will receive £150,000 to increase technical skills capabilities in electric vehicle technologies. This project will support low carbon electric vehicle skills development through an extension to existing workshop space and state-of-the-art technologies at the college.

Louise Doswell, Deputy Chief Executive and Principal (Partnerships and Development) at York College, said: “York College is committed to training and upskilling motor vehicle technicians to increase capacity to meet the demand for green transport options and contribute to the government net zero carbon target by 2050.  With the support of £150,000  of investment secured by the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership we have been able to accelerate our capital investment plans to start delivering training from the beginning of 2021 with newly installed EV technologies.

“This investment will enable small and medium sized (SME) independent garages who experience the most difficulties in meeting technological advancement needs to access local training opportunities. These developments will also enable access to emerging technological training for new entrants (16 to 19 -year olds) that will enable young people to enter the jobs market with advanced skills and improve employment opportunities.”

Scarborough TEC will receive £92,620 investment for their electric and green skills project. This will support the purchase of electric vehicle / training equipment to enable low carbon motor vehicle maintenance courses and charging bays will be installed in the college’s existing Automotive, Construction and Engineering Centre, which was also part-funded with money secured by the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership and opened in June 2019, to promote green transport education and training and employability. In addition, the project will provide new engineering technologies, to introduce hybrid/electric transport courses.

Ann Hardy, Principal of Scarborough TEC, said: “The electric vehicles will be a fantastic addition to the resources at Scarborough TEC. The vehicles will provide the latest in electric vehicle technology to help us train the future professionals of the industry in preparation for changes in the motor industry to meet environmental needs.”

Sam Alexander, Chair of the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership Skills and Employability Board, which endorsed funding for both colleges, said: “The projects at York College and Scarborough TEC both offer fantastic opportunities for young people. Both are addressing a skills shortage in our region around low carbon electric vehicle maintenance, which is an important, developing, sector. We are pleased to endorse both projects, which align so closely with the LEP’s good growth ambitions, and our vision for a greener, fairer, stronger economy.”

Ten projects in York & North Yorkshire had £15.4m of investment agreed in principle in August to receive Getting Building Fund money. Final funding decisions are due to be completed by the LEP before the end of 2020.

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Further information about the Getting Building Fund and Northern Powerhouse

Askham Bryan College has been given the green light for its new Digital Skills Academy.

The £1m project, funded by the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership through the government’s Getting Building Fund, will create an extension to the college’s existing Learning Resources Centre at the York campus. It will provide the college with a purpose-built environment to teach essential digital literacy skills to its students, enhanced digital skills to those already in industry settings, and to upskill and reskill the current land-based workforce in line with current emerging digital technologies.

There will also be dedicated space within the new building for a mixed reality suite to enable the use of immersive technology within the College’s teaching, allowing students to access simulated environments that will provide a richer more expansive learning experience.

Dr Tim Whitaker, Principal and CEO of Askham Bryan College, said: “The creation of the Digital Skills Academy will be of significant benefit to the College’s students, staff and industry stakeholders, and will provide a dedicated space for digital and immersive teaching and learning. It will ensure the College becomes a leading provider of digital skills and literacy in the region. Sustainable food production and environmental conservation are undergoing a rapid digital revolution. This development will enhance the College’s curriculum and delivery of new skills enabling it to respond with flexibility and agility to these rapidly developing industries.”

The project also aims to provide a sustainable curriculum delivery for staff and students where learning materials can be accessed on site or remotely.  Learning content will include everything from fundamental basics of digital technology to precision approaches in areas such as agriculture and animal management. The College hopes to work with partners to develop innovative digital content for its subjects.

The full £1m for the scheme was allocated by the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership from the Getting Building Fund. It is one of 10 schemes to benefit from a £15.4m Getting Building Fund pot for the Y&NY LEP area. 

David Dickson, Chair of the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership Infrastructure & Joint Assets Board, said: “The region is working towards a greener, fairer, stronger economy, and this project certainly demonstrates those values. We’re pleased to support such an ambitious project which creates further skills provision for the area.”

The Digital Skills Academy design is by Evans McDowall Architects. The build will begin this spring with completion winter 2021.

ENDS

Further information about the Getting Building Fund and Northern Powerhouse

This short video features Your Consortium and programme delivery partners in the York & North Yorkshire LEP, who talk about the challenges and changes community organisations have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Community Grants are part of the European Social Fund (ESF) programme and the aim of the fund is to help unemployed people progress towards employment through access to learning and training opportunities.

This video features the work of Claro Enterprise in Starbeck who have been working with partners Veterans’ Woodcraft to deliver basic skills courses.

Action Towards Inclusion is for adults who are not working and would love to get ready for work or training in the future.

It offers support to those who are the furthest from the labour market due to barriers such as mental health issues, debt and lacking qualifications. This video introduces the work of one of its delivery partners, Kyra Women’s Project.