A new campaign challenges firms across the county to capitalise on the talent on their doorstep by forging strong links with schools and students by offering apprenticeships, work placement and attending outreach events.
The Bright Futures campaign will also give young people a new insight into the many career, training and apprenticeship opportunities available right on their doorstep.
Bright Futures, developed by Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership, will run throughout 2015 and will feature many of the county’s ‘real apprentices’, initially in schools and local media, on posters and billboards, a website www.lovebrightfutures.com and in social media.
Many Northamptonshire companies and industry bodies have already signed up to the campaign, which profiles prominent local employers already investing in their young employees. Local schools have contributed significantly via focus groups to ensure the messaging is relevant and credible.
They have also been encouraged to take advantage of displays in their careers offices, a range of digital materials available as screen savers, and Pop-Up Job Shops which will be placed at ten Northamptonshire schools in April and May.
Planned activity also includes:
- Interactive social media encouraging young people and their employers to join the #dreamjob conversation;
- A spotlight on Enterprise Advisers, business leaders and inspirers who can explain alternative career paths including workplace training and apprenticeships;
- Collaborations with key industry bodies such as the British Footwear Association, plus a spotlight on key Northamptonshire sectors, collectively working towards 100 or more new apprenticeship opportunities being available as a result of this campaign;
- Events and apprenticeship, jobs and careers fairs.
New research by NEP has revealed significant support for young people across Northamptonshire’s strongest sectors including high-performance technologies, food and drink, logistics, creative and cultural.
An impressive 93% of participating businesses indicated that they would consider employing an apprentice. 70% of companies taking part in the survey have previously employed an apprentice and 87% rated their experience as positive and 77% as very positive.
NEP’s head of marketing and communications Kate Dent said: “These results indicate a really positive outlook for young people in Northamptonshire, a future workforce who are ready and willing to work.
"Bright Futures is a long-term campaign highlighting opportunities in businesses large and small in Northamptonshire’s key sectors, and our initial research findings are a baseline for monitoring changing attitudes over time.
"The campaign has already secured backing from key businesses and important industry bodies such as the British Footwear Association and we look forward to announcing additional partnerships in due course.”
Bright Futures will run throughout 2015 with a phased roll out featuring monthly focuses on key Northamptonshire business sectors throughout the year.
