The Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) introduced The Skills Pledge in 2013, aiming to provide employers with a one stop shop when it comes to supporting their current and future workforce. Since its inception, a total of 373 organisations from across the Humber have supported the campaign which won national acclaim at last years Adult Learners Week awards.

Monday October 3rd marks the launch of a new campaign, with the aim of signing up 100 additional supporters to this already successful programme. Organisations are asked to either sign up individual pledges, or request to find out more information about each one.

 Developing the skills of the existing workforce
 Mentoring an entrepreneur
 Offering a work placement
 Offering a Traineeship or Apprenticeship
 Employing a graduate
 Supporting the development of employability skills

Organisations signing up will receive a ‘We have Pledged’ logo to use on their website, literature, etc. as well as a pin-badge, certificate, and a monthly newsletter with news stories, funding updates, and events/programmes/opportunities to can get involved with, if they choose to. Signing up to the Skills Pledge offers a platform for sharing for sharing best practice across the Humber.

Teresa Chalmers, Exec Director Employment & Skills at the Humber LEP said: “We understand that the idea of linking in with skills and careers can be daunting for employers but actually when we meet with them, we find that they are already doing something that warrants their involvement in the campaign. If an employer already has an apprentice in the business or has any form of appraisal or staff development plan, they should sign up.”

“What we’re looking for from this campaign is to encourage organisations that may already be doing great work to shout about it and to do that little bit more. With clear evidence that a number of interactions with employers have huge benefits for young people, we are looking for employers who, for example, might like to support mock interview events or speak to students about their own industry as well as offering work placements where possible.”

A variety of different opportunities are available for new and existing Skills Pledge sign ups to get involved in, from supporting a school careers event to speaking to young people looking for a step up on to the jobs ladder or even offering a week of work experience via the local pilot of a 40+ age group Returneeship programme. However businesses choose to get involved, there are also huge benefits for existing employees in terms of both personal and professional development and through the Skills Support for the Workforce fund.

Vicky O’Grady, Business Development Manager at Ability IT said: “At Ability IT we feel it’s incredibly important to get involved with showcasing careers in our industry whilst young people are still in school and engaging with them to educate them about the range of opportunities within the field of IT.

“We are very proud of our work experience programme which was launched this year which has provided real work experiences to five school and college pupils, totalling almost 4 months to date.”

For more information, please contact Jen Vincent on j.vincent@humberlep.org or 01482 485269

You can sign up to the Skills Pledge at http://www.humberlep.org/skills-pledge/

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