Bradford College

College Tackles High Unemployment Figures for NEETS

With widespread media coverage surrounding the record number of young people out of school, work and training, Bradford College is leading the way with an innovative range of courses that have employability in mind.

According to the latest statistics published by the Department for Education (DfE) more than a million 16 to 24-year-olds (almost one in five) are considered ''NEET'' (not in education, employment or training).
 
Through the range of outstanding courses, Bradford College is opening up opportunities for these young people to get the right education, training programmes and employment.

The Chief Executive of Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) Peter Lauener, visited the college to find out more.

The (YPLA) exists to support the delivery of training and education, providing financial support to young learners, by funding Academies for all their provision and by supporting local authorities to commission suitable education and training opportunities for all 16-19 year olds.

During the visit Mr Lauener took a tour of Bradford College, speaking to students and staff about the outstanding provision at Bradford College and the routes to progression and employment. Mr Lauener was accompanied by Principal and Chief Executive of Bradford College, Michele Sutton, OBE and Assistant Principal: Young People & Quality (FE), Debbie Forsythe Conroy (FE).

Commenting during his visit, Chief Executive of Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) Peter Lauener said: “The great thing I’ve seen at Bradford College is the wonderful range of education and training, which is giving young people real job opportunities and prospects of good jobs and careers.” 

Mr Lauener went on to add: “I’ve heard of loads of cases where young people have been on courses and have been snapped up because of the skills they’ve developed at Bradford College.”

During the visit Mr Lauener discovered more about the innovative range of courses available, including programmes delivered with the International Food Academy IFA.  Speaking to Graham Fleming the head of the IFA Mr Lauener learnt  the academy had a 90% success rate in finding apprentices employment after graduation.

Mr Lauener also met with Peter Horton the head of the ‘Peter Jones Academy’ and heard how Bradford College had been working closely with the Peter Jones Foundation to launch  two new exciting courses, which have been developed to assist young people progress their entrepreneurial skills and launch their own business venture.

 Assistant Principal: Young People & Quality (FE), Debbie Forsythe Conroy (FE) outlined the innovative work carried out within the ‘The Style Academy’. Through its unique programme of study, the Style Academy delivers practical solutions for newly qualified people wanting to secure work in the current economic climate. 

The Academy has successfully created a new breed of employee with the right qualifications, the right attitude and the confidence to add value to any business; The missing additional skills often cited nationally by employers across all sectors.

Commenting during the official visit by Mr Lauener, Principal Michele Sutton, OBE said: “It was great pleasure to welcome Mr Peter Lauener the Chief Executive of Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) to Bradford College.  It gave me the opportunity to show him the very distinctive work of Bradford College and how our staff are really committed to developing these types of active new programmes for our students.”

Principal Michele Sutton, OBE concluded: “I was delighted when Mr Lauener told me that he was really impressed with the provision at Bradford College. He’d seen programmes at Bradford College that were unique and a first of their kind for the country. He also went on to congratulate the spirit and commitment of our staff and students.”

• Chief Executive, YPLA Peter Lauener's Visit to College