REGIONAL PARTNERS RISE TO THE CHALLENGE

L-R: Margaret Coleman, regional director for
the LSC in Yorkshire and the Humber with Rt
Hon Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for DCSF,
at 14-19 Challenge launch event.

The LSC, Yorkshire Forward and Government Office are calling out to Yorkshire businesses to take part in the 14-19 Yorkshire and the Humber Challenge, which aims to achieve a world-class education and training system for young people in the region.

The project has been introduced to ensure that the region's 14-19 year old learners get the best curriculum possible and to engage and inspire young people to make positive decisions about their futures.

The 14-19 Challenge will focus on five key themes for strategic and coherent action over the next five years:

• Theme 1 - Raising Attainment Challenge
• Theme 2 - 14-19 Curriculum and Qualifications Challenge
• Theme 3 - Business and Enterprise Challenge
• Theme 4 - Progression
• Theme 5 - Young People's Challenge

Rt Hon Ed Balls with young people.

The Rt Hon Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), is a keen advocate of the Challenge and was invited to speak at the launch conference held at the Royal Armouries, Leeds earlier this year. Other guest speakers included Jon Coles, Director 14-19 Reform, DCSF and Margaret Coleman, regional director for the LSC in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Margaret Coleman commented: "The LSC fully supports this project and we would like to encourage other organisations in the region to rise to the challenge by encouraging young people to think about the future. Whether it is by offering Apprenticeships or working with specialised diploma providers, this challenge gives businesses the opportunity to raise success rates by reducing the number of young people in the region who are not in employment, education and training."

Organisations and businesses in the region can get involved by helping to identify issues and concerns that can prevent employer engagement or by offering Apprenticeships and diplomas.

Others taking up the 14-19 Challenge include the Yorkshire and the Humber Directors of Children's Services; DCSF, Sheffield; Turner & Townsend and the Regional Voluntary Sector Forum.

For more information about the 14-19 Challenge, visit www.lsc.gov.uk/regions/YorkshireHumber/whatwedo/local/1419Challenge.htm