Strategy developed to enable 14 to 25-year-olds to reach their full potential

Stoke-on-Trent City Council and partners are set to launch the Young People’s Learning and Skills Strategy, 2022–2027.

Strategy developed to enable 14 to 25-year-olds to reach their full potential

Stoke-on-Trent City Council and partners are set to launch the Young People’s Learning and Skills Strategy, 2022–2027.

Co-produced by the city council with the local community, schools and colleges, the strategy aims to enable 14 to 25-year-olds to develop their skills, quality and qualifications so they can reach their full potential and meet the needs of employers and the city.

The strategy identifies four focus areas:

• Excellent education and training;
• Employers as leaders;
• Tackling inequality and raising aspirations;
• One community, one city.

The strategy commits to initiatives such as promoting apprenticeships and other opportunities to disadvantaged young people through the ‘Be The Future’ programme, encouraging digital skills through Silicon Stoke programme, promoting mentorship programmes in the city, creating a city-wide conversation on mentorship and developing a local skills pledge partnership, offering employers a package of options for those want to contribute to learning and skills.

The city council will also engage with young people through the Youth Council on the implementation of the strategy.

Councillor Janine Bridges, cabinet member for education and economy, said: “Our city and the wider urban area which surrounds it, is a place of massive opportunity, leading the nation in terms of economic growth and job creation. The foundation of our future prosperity is a strong local learning and skills system. In our city, as elsewhere, no one organisation holds the key to this system: schools, colleges, universities, training providers, employers, charities, central government, local government, community organisations and families all have their role to play. We need every adult in Stoke-on-Trent to care passionately about children and young people and express that through relationships, community and business life.

“Working side by side with our local partners, we are setting an ambitious agenda for how we will support young people to get the most from their education and gain the skills to transition successfully into fulfilling, long-term employment. We have put young people at the

heart of our policy process; we have heard directly from many young people so far, and we hope to engage with many more as we begin to deliver their priorities.”

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s cabinet is recommended to approve the strategy when it meets next Tuesday (27 September).

This comes as the city council is set to hold an Aspiration Summit next month to promote skills, careers and employment in the city. The free to attend careers and jobs marketplace will be held on Friday 7 October, 1:30pm to 6pm in the Kings Hall, Stoke.

Councillor Dave Evans, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “We have around 45 businesses and training providers available on the day to answer residents’ questions and help them find the right job or career. This event provides the perfect opportunity for the city’s young people and job seekers to take advantage of a wide variety of employment opportunities available throughout North Staffordshire.”

For more information on the Aspiration Summit visit www.stoke.gov.uk/aspirationsummit