THREE Bradford business leaders have backed The Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s call to make sure youngsters are leaving school with the right skills by joining its scheme.

Gary Peacock, general manager of the Midland Hotel, in Forster Square, The Broadway general manager Ian Ward and Adrienne Reid, assistant chief executive at housing group Incommunities, are among more than 100 business leaders who have already become advisers for the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) Enterprise Adviser Network.

The scheme provides advice from employers to one third of all schools in the City Region, supporting 3,500 pupils to gain workplace skills and experience.

The free service sees senior leaders in business working with schools to support the creation and implementation of careers and enterprise action plans.

This gives employers direct involvement in shaping the skills of school-leavers.

The call for more firms to get involved follows the publication of a new report which forecasts a growing demand for skilled workers in the region, particularly in science, research, engineering and technology roles.

Roger Marsh, LEP chairman, said: “It is essential that our school leavers have the right mix of skills needed by employers to help ensure that the Leeds City Region remains competitive with the rest of the United Kingdom.

“Our Enterprise Adviser Network aims to create and strengthen links between business and education in the local area, and equip young people with the core skills needed to join the workforce.

“For our advisers, as little as a few hours of their time a year spent going into schools and giving inspiring talks at assembly, mentoring young people or developing in-depth skills training plans, can make a huge difference to the employment prospects of young people in the City Region.”

Anyone interested in joining the Enterprise Adviser Network should email enterpriseadvisers@the-lep.com or visit the-lep.com/enterpriseadvisers.