Wolverhampton Education Business Partnership

Wolverhampton Education Business Partnership engages the support of businesses to develop the competencies required of young learners for work readiness, and as responsible and enterprising citizens contributing towards a safe and prosperous community.

Wolverhampton Education Business Partnership facilitates a wide variety of activities organised into six core programme areas.

1. Work experience/work based learning

To support young people at 14 to 19 with the opportunity to learn skills and knowledge through the work place.

The Education Business Partnership provides a range of support services for employers and schools for supporting learners undertaking quality work experience/work based learning activities. Our support has been developed with both traditional block placements for one or two weeks and extended placements where one or more days per week across a term or more in duration is used. We aim to sharpen and bring greater added value to the operations and impact of these valuable learning opportunities.

2. Professional development placements

To support the continuing professional development of teachers through industry and business placements focused on sustaining education business links that support school improvement, raise standards and increase employability skills. 

The Education Business Partnership provides an ongoing programme of one day or more placements designed to reflect the needs of the individual teacher and company involved.  The placements aim to help teachers relate their subject area to the ‘world of work’ and bring the curriculum to life with the support of companies. GCSE’s in the vocational subjects of Art and Design, Science, Leisure and Tourism, Health and Social Care, Engineering, Manufacturing, Business and ICT are best delivered where real life contexts can be brought to the attention of learners.

3. Enterprise and creativity

To enable learners to develop the characteristics of ‘enterprising people’ for themselves, their employers and their communities.

Business wants young people not only with basic and key skills but with those positive attitudes and behaviours characterised as enterprise. The Education Business Partnership can provide programme and individual activity support for the delivery of enterprise learning experiences linked to challenges with a business context.

4. Mentoring

To improve young people’s motivation and performance through coaching and mentoring programmes supported by trained volunteers from business and the wider community.

The Education Business Partnership supports a number of mentoring models that target specific learners with opportunities to increase motivation to learn and succeed. Our managed programmes provide training and development for mentors and advice, materials and guidance for schools in sustaining successful mentoring arrangements.

5.  Work related learning and 14 to 19 CARD activities (Choose A Real Deal)

Learning experiences for pupils that make connections between what is learnt at school and the world outside and prepares them for the transition to work and adult life through the development of enterprising and employability skills.

A range of opportunities that engage learners and employers to enhance qualification outcomes, improve skills development and inform progression routes. Including student focused visits to industry to support vocational related subjects, interview skills workshop sessions for CV writing and interview simulations.

6.  Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM)

To provide a range of opportunities for learners to access STEM related activities through the involvement of local business and industry.

The Education Business Partnership has developed with local, regional and national partners a range of activities/events/initiatives designed to promote and support learning for STEM linked to business and industry, including dedicated support to engineering, manufacturing and technology status schools,

Activities

Activities include:

• Focused curriculum improvement projects and visits involving local companies with problem solving and exploring work related tasks.
• Maths master classes for gifted and talented 13 year olds
• Engineering mentors from local companies that support GCSEs in science, engineering and manufacturing.

Partners

Wolverhampton Education Business Partnership partners include:

• Advantage West Midlands
• Black Country Business Link
• Businessdynamics
• Business in the Community
• City of Wolverhampton College
• Construction Industry Training Board
• Black Country SETpoint
• Engineering Employers’ Federation
• Learning and Skills Council – Black Country
• Connexions
• Single Regeneration Budget
• Wolverhampton Association of Training Organisations
• Wolverhampton Businesses
• Wolverhampton Connects
• Wolverhampton LEA, Wolverhampton Schools and Young Enterprise

Further information

For more information contact Tony Pitchers:

Wolverhampton Education Business Partnership
Jennie Lee Centre
Lichfield Road
Wednesfield
Wolverhampton
WV11 3HT

Telephone: (01902) 555277
Fax (01902) 555272

E-mail Tony.pitchers@wolverhampton.gov.uk