News and Views

Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP) is looking forward to celebrating careers in Cumbria during National Careers Week 2022, which is taking place from 7 to 12 March.

Currently, many of our businesses are facing significant challenges in finding the right people for their business, so it is essential that everybody knows what great careers are available in Cumbria.

National Careers Week is the annual celebration of all things careers and, throughout next week, a range of activities is planned to help and support employers, schools, colleges and young people through Cumbria Careers Hub.

The Careers Hub provides careers support all year round and is managed, supported and part-funded by the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP) in partnership with the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC).

To celebrate National Careers Week, the Careers Hub is:

• Launching its brand new website – a resource for employers to help engage with careers education and start their talent pipeline -- (www.careershubcumbria.co.uk).
• Launching its newly created “Our Future” Labour Market information toolkit for schools and colleges, helping young people learn and understand the vast education and career opportunities on their doorstep.
• Launching a fabulous design competition for all year 9 students in Cumbria, where the winning student could win £500 for their school to spend on career resources as well as winning a prize themselves.

The Careers Hub provides support to all local secondary schools and colleges working together with universities, training providers, employers and career professionals to improve careers education.

Careers Hub Manager Cath Dutton said: “We are here to help all year round but National Careers Week gives us the opportunity to really promote and highlight the support that we can offer to our employers, schools, colleges and very importantly our young people.

“We firmly believe that good careers guidance has the power to change lives. We are therefore pleased to announce that for the first time since its launch, Cumbria Careers Hub is now able to support all mainstream schools, special schools and colleges thanks to additional funding from the CEC and CLEP.

“This means that every young person in Cumbria can access a well-rounded careers education programme from Years 7 to Year 13.

“For young people, meeting employers and experiencing different workplaces is really important in helping them find their best next step. There are lots of ways employers can support young people and school leaders and in doing this they can develop their own staff and identify new talent for their business.

“For employers it has never been more important to start planning their talent pipeline and engage with young people as showcasing your industry and company can help you address the current and future skills shortages. If you would like to know more, take a look at our website and get in touch.”

The population in Cumbria has rapidly decreased over the last 25 years, meaning that the number of people working in the area has fallen too.

To help address the problem, CLEP recently relaunched its “Our Future” campaign – paused during the COVID-19 pandemic – which celebrates the achievements and contributions of Cumbria’s young people and highlights the fantastic career opportunities available in Cumbria.

CLEP Chief Executive Jo Lappin said: “Working with our design agency, Marwick Communications, CLEP and the Careers Hub has launched a logo design competition for year 9 students.

“The task is to design a logo that links the “Our Future” campaign to careers activities in schools. The logo will be used on leaflets, posters and in lessons to show when an activity relates to careers.

“The winning student will secure £500 for their school to spend on careers activity as well as the opportunity to work with the professional design agency to produce the logo, which will be rolled out to all schools and colleges in Cumbria.

“I am very much looking forward to see what our talented young people will produce.”

She added: “Next week is dedicated to celebrating careers. I believe that every young person should be helped to achieve their full potential, irrespective of where they live or which school they attend.

“Careers education helps our young people to know and understand all of the options available to them and make the right choices for them and their future career.”

To find out more visit Cumbria Careers Hub (careershubcumbria.co.uk).