Question Time comes to Basingstoke

Question Time debate argues for a clearer long term government strategy for business/education partnerships and programmes to break barriers of engagement with young people.

A wide ranging discussion by panellists at a Question Time debate held 19th October 2011, argued for a clearer long term government strategy for business and education partnerships. It also highlighted the need for programmes to break down the barriers of engagement with young people to ensure their employability now and in the future.

Hosted by the Basingstoke Consortium, an education charity helping young people prepare for the world of work, the panellists addressed issues ranging from strategy and innovation, to the school leaving age and the importance of well rounded, motivated young people.

"There needs to be a clearer long term strategy from the government to help businesses and education work sustainably together," said Mark Foster, Group Chief Executive of Global Management Consultancy at Accenture. "To be competitive in the UK we need to have a high level of innovation and we need to create new opportunities for businesses in growth areas such as life sciences, care services, smart energy and biotech. Businesses need the right skillset from their employees to ensure their competitiveness."

Chris Dodson, Chair of the IoD South Region added: "There is a massive appetite from businesses to be involved in working with the education sector, but they need help in creating that link and help in defining the programmes that young people should follow to ensure employability in the future. Businesses are very supportive of the education sector and this passion needs to be rooted in positive actions."

"Qualifications are very important," commented Stella McKnight, Head of Employer Engagement at the University of Winchester, "but it is the well rounded and motivated individual that is of more value to a business. The soft skills needed by young people today include communication, motivation, self confidence, social and analytical skills as well as opportunities for innovation. The Prime Minister has challenged Higher Education to take this on board and Universities are beginning to gather views from businesses. But these young people aren't aliens! They just need confidence in themselves."

Stephen Sheedy, Principal of Queen Mary's College, Basingstoke agreed and added: "We need to redefine what education is for and what it should be achieving. Young people are getting very mixed messages from adults about their value and worth. Deep in the English psyche adults don't seem to like young people and they need to open their minds to the skillset of these young people and encourage and motivate them. With encouragement they can be innovative – they have enormous communication power through social networking and this energy needs to be channelled into a work environment."

"Businesses need to be more involved by offering regular opportunities for work experience," added John Copley, Vice Chair of the M3 Local Enterprise Partnership. "Skills shortages are a major hurdle for businesses to overcome and so we need to break down the barriers through engagement and giving opportunities to be exposed to the world of work. Motivation and hope are crucial for the workforce of the future."

Sue Riley, Chief Executive of the Basingstoke Consortium rounded off the Question Time event by launching the Skillstree initiative, a new programme of activity for young people and businesses across the Basingstoke and Deane area. "The Skillstree initiative includes a new Employer Forum designed to give businesses a voice in helping to shape the workforce of the future and a schedule of conferences, workshops, work experience, business mentoring and coaching for young people," said Sue. "In addition it launches new sponsorship packages for businesses to become involved in supporting the valuable work of the Consortium, including smaller packages for SMEs who make up the majority of businesses in the area."

"At the Basingstoke Consortium we are totally focused on building and developing a partnership between business and education to ensure that our young people have the best possible opportunities in life."