MPs unveil careers guidance inquiry in Bradford (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Education Select Committee visits city

7:00am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News By James Rush, T&A Reporter

An influential group of MPs visited Bradford as it unveiled an inquiry into career guidance and advice services.

The Education Select Committee was in the district yesterday at the beginning of its inquiry, after Bradford East MP David Ward, a member of the committee, advised the group of what was happening in the city.

The group met with head teachers and Bradford Council and visited Bradford College and Bradford Chamber of Commerce, along with a range of employers, as they investigated the guidance and advice offered to young people looking to move into work after education.

Committee chairman Graham Stuart said the committee heard from employers who felt students were leaving school lacking the “basic skills” required, while students were being sent on courses which did not take them into the line of work they wished for.

He said: “Local employers are frustrated at the fact that young people are not given the basic skills which employers say are required to be able to hit the ground running when young people come for a job, whether as an apprentice or in other roles.

“So they think there’s an insufficient emphasis on a number of qualities – punctuality, basic literacy and numeracy, personal presentation and social skills.”

Bradford East MP David Ward said: “It’s obviously crucial that we get young people into employment and if we can support that through improving the information and guidance they receive then that can only be a good thing.”

e-mail: james.rush@telegraphandargus.co.uk Twitter: @jamesrushTandA