Warwickshire Education Business Partnership wins award
Warwickshire Education Business Partnership has clinched national acclaim with the Award for Education Business Excellence.
The award is run by the Institute for Education Business Excellence and accredits organisations to the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ National Standard for Education Business Partnership Organisations (May 2008).
It recognises the continued efforts and high standards achieved by Warwickshire Education Business Partnership (WEBP), a part of Warwickshire County Council, in its ongoing work connecting education and the world of work for the benefit of young people in the area.
The WEBP has been building education-business links with local and national employers, for over 18 years. Working in partnership with schools, colleges and businesses to prepare young people for adult and working life. They are one of only 22 organisations nationally to secure the new award, and the first in the sub-region to gain the award.
The WEBP are the preferred supplier of work-related learning activity in Warwickshire and engage with all secondary schools within the County as well as a significant number of primary schools. WEBP is also a STEMPOINT contract holder on behalf of STEMNET in order to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths to young people.
Sheila Hancox, Head of the Warwickshire Education Business Partnership, said: “We are delighted to be accredited with the Award for Education Business Excellence. We are pleased that all our efforts to improve the learning experiences of young people in Warwickshire have been recognised at a national level by the Institute for Education Business Excellence.
“We are all extremely proud of the wide range of work-related learning and enterprise services we offer. We are constantly adapting and changing the way we work, to reflect the demands and pressures of our economic climate.
"Now more than ever schools and colleges need to work in partnership with businesses to ensure that all young people are equipped with the skills, appropriate attitudes and attributes they need to meet the economic demands of the future.”
The WEBP reached the best possible standard within each of the 20 criteria set within the award, which includes 11 core criteria. Going above and beyond what is expected by our schools is all part of our unique tailor-made service, and we are immensely grateful for the support shown to us by our employers and other stakeholders. Without their support none of our work we do would be possible.
“The WEBP provides a very professional service which is fully flexible to meet our specific needs. It provides value for money and is an organisation we can trust to provide a quality experience for our students.” Assistant Head at Aylesford School, Mrs J Chamberlain.
Education Business Partnership Organisations work with over 300,000 companies and organisations nationally to enable employers to work successfully in partnership with schools and colleges as a contribution to young people’s education and their journey to adulthood.
Work-related learning has a positive impact on young people and is particularly important during this period of economic uncertainty with the significant increase in numbers of young people without relevant skills or employment.
The Award for Education Business Excellence is just one of a series of initiatives to professionalise the sector alongside the formation of a new professional body – the Institute for Education Business Excellence. The Institute will offer national recognition with regional support, driving quality and innovation through the provision of specialist networks, expert practitioner groups and forums and a new CPD framework.
Declan Swan, CE of IEBE said: "The Institute for Education Business Excellence will provide quality assurance for organisations and professional development for practitioners working across Education Business Partnership Organisations.
"It’s an exciting development which will ensure that employers and agencies wishing to get involved in education have access to networks of dynamic and high quality professionals.
"The Institute is an open association so I urge any like-minded professionals working in the field of education business partnership activity to join us and participate in our work to change the way young people learn."