Two Weeks Of Work Experience Guaranteed For North Yorkshire Pupils

Every secondary school pupil in North Yorkshire will be offered two weeks of meaningful work experience as part of a major expansion to a regional careers programme.

Two weeks of meaningful work experience will soon be offered to every secondary school pupil in York and North Yorkshire as a major careers programme expands.

Support is also being extended into primary schools to help children prepare for their futures at an earlier age, with a renewed focus on disadvantaged young people and breaking down barriers to career progression.

The expansion follows a change in leadership, with the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority taking over the region's existing Careers Hub. The move, endorsed at a cabinet meeting on Friday, 11 September, reflects a national shift towards local authorities taking a stronger strategic role in careers education.

Currently, the hub connects education and employers across all 75 secondary schools and colleges in the region, reaching around 50,000 students every year.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:

"Everyone deserves the best start in life so they can have a fulfilling career, no matter their background. That's why we're investing in and expanding our Careers Hub, as we bring the service under our leadership. This is how we can inspire the next generation, tackle inequalities and ensure every student comes out of school ready and excited for the world of work."

The initiative will continue to be run in partnership with The Careers and Enterprise Company, an independent national body that operates a network of 44 hubs across England.

John Yarham, CEO of The Careers & Enterprise Company, said:

"We welcome the news that York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority will take on leadership of the Careers Hub. Combined Authorities bring together education, employers and local partners around the opportunities and skills their communities need. We look forward to working even more closely and in partnership with Mayor David Skaith’s Cradle to Career ambition, building on the strong foundations of the Careers Hub and our partnership to date. Together, we can ensure every school and every young person benefits from high-quality careers education and the connections they need to take their best next step."

Officials say the updated approach will closely align careers education with local skills and the specific needs of employers, helping to keep young talent within the region.

Councillor Bob Webb, Portfolio Holder for Education, Employment and Skills, said:

"It brings together employees and educators to provide those opportunities for young people, allows us to focus young people's minds, as well, on opportunities and employment in the local community that they live in, hopefully making it more likely that our productive young people will stay in their local areas, because they can see a positive future, and finally, these experiences make an absolute difference to young people's lives and in some cases, allowing young people to learn what they want to do or indeed what they don't want to do. That's a very important part of work experience. And finally, giving them the skills, experiences and vital evidence of what they can do for future employers is absolutely essential."

The careers hub will also connect schools, colleges, training providers, local authorities, and community partners alongside the National Careers Service.

The Head of Education, Employment and Skills, Leigh Mills, said:

"The hub will support all of our young people to access meaningful work experience and be fully informed about the opportunities that this region has to offer. The careers hub will place young people at the centre of service design, using youth voice alongside employer insight and labour market intelligence, ensuring that provision remains responsive to local need. The approach will also strengthen engagement with parents and carers, enabling families to play a more informed role in supporting young people as they make choices about their futures. The work will be delivered through a flexible, place-based approach, really building stronger local partnerships with education and employers to create those sustainable opportunities."

The expanded service forms part of an all-age careers approach for the region, aiming to back children and young people at every stage from early years through to employment.