Tees Valley Organisation Up For Three National Careers Awards

Schools, colleges, businesses and organisations across Tees Valley have today (August 20) been shortlisted for three national awards, celebrating the best in careers provision.

The Careers & Enterprise Company’s Careers Excellence Awards, in partnership with the Gatsby Foundation, shines a light on best practice careers provision, highlighting the hard work carried out by schools and colleges, businesses, volunteers, organisations and careers providers to inspire and prepare young people for the world of work.

Now in its third year, these awards have seen the region shortlisted in three categories. Tees Valley Careers Hub, supported by the Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and the Combined Authority, is in the running to be named Careers Hub of the Year. This recognises those who can demonstrate how and why they are achieving significant progress against the Government’s careers guidelines, the Gatsby Benchmarks.

Engineering firm Jacobs and Darlington’s Carmel College are jointly up for the Partnership of the Year Award, which is given to a school and college or partner organisation that has been successful in providing best practice careers support for young people.

Hartlepool’s Catcote Academy has also been nominated in the SEND Champion of the Year category, awarded to an individual or school or college which is achieving improved careers outcomes for young people with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities.

Mayor Houchen said: “’I’m delighted that the Tees Valley Careers Hub has been so successful it’s now been shortlisted for such a prestigious national award. This is testament to the hard work and dedication of our teachers, businesses and training providers in nurturing the next generation of local talent.

“Proper careers provision and meaningful integrations with business for our young people is essential if we are going to show our young people that they can have a rewarding working life here in the Tees Valley, and ensure the long-term success of our companies.”

Earlier this year it was announced careers support in the region was set for a boost following the announcement that the Mayor and Combined Authority were successful in their bid to expand the local Careers Hub.

The expansion is enabling an extra 25 schools and colleges to join the programme, working together with universities, training providers, employers and career professionals. To enhance this offer, Mayor Ben Houchen extended the offer to all 70 secondary schools and colleges in the Tees Valley, to create a single coordinated approach to careers education.