www.walsallebp.co.uk

Some Valued Partners

Annual Report September 2010

Walsall Education Business Partnership:

4th Floor, Townend House, Townend Square,

Walsall WS1 1NS

Tel: 01922 424200 Fax: 01922 424243

E-mail: info@walsallebp.co.uk

Walsall EBP Achievements – 2009

a) further significant developments to the Walsall EBP to record EBL activities including providing access t report to all of the secondary schools

b) successfully gaining accreditation to offer the Edexc suite of awards

c) organised most successful Employer Conference to delegate attendance and feedback

d) access to Walsall EBP Work Experience database ‘so neighbouring EBP

e) increase in number of primary schools supported

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f) highly successful Holiday Bursary placements for Technology teachers funded by Metals Academy

g) Walsall EBP Board to provide ‘employer voice’ to 16-19 Commissioning process

h) introduction of accredited H&S and First Aid qualifications to the ‘Smart Choices’ programme

i) successful launch and implementation of the Walsall EBP Enterprise Champions

j) maintained performance standards required for Award for Education Business Excellence

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Highlights

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Some highlights of the past contract year (August 2009 – July 2010) are:

Targets – in spite of the difficulties with the recession Walsall EBPachieved, and in most cases exceeded, all of the external targets set byvarious funders for the 2009 / 2010 contract year. The overall performance figures are as follows:

10,413 secondary school students involved 1,558 primary school pupils involved 3,151 businesses supporting education business link activities with schools

Funding: Income £ 616,000 Expenditure £ 588,000

Walsall EBP Em

mployer Conference

Entitled “Making LearningReal” this year’s EmployerConference, at the Banks’sStadium on Thursday 18March 2010, was sponsoredby Walsall Housing Groupand, although the economic

climate remains ‘challenging’, the eventattracted over 180 delegates, easily thehighest number in the 14 year historyof the event. The high numbers actuallycaused the only potential difficultiesbut there was a real ‘buzz’ and vibrancyevident during the morning and thepositive feedback received from the delegates was outstandingly good.

The main input was by Tim Johnson, Executive Director – Regeneration, Walsall Council who explored the linksbetween the physical regeneration taking place within Walsall and theneed to improve the education and skilllevels of the young people currently inWalsall schools. He also emphasisedthe real need for local employers of allshapes and sizes to get involved.

The most pleasing aspects of the Conference from our point of view were:

a) the sheer number of delegates – which surprised us;

b) the quality of the delegates – the increased attendance again from senior managers / decision makers;

c) the quality and level of feedback from the Showcase sessions;

d) the very obvious enthusiasm and interest in the Awards;

e) the number of delegates wishing to become involved in more Walsall EBP activities.

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C O N F E R E N C E

Walsall EBP ‘Champions’ Launch

An increasing number of employer support schemes use the ‘Ambassador’ Construction, Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM), Retail, etc) and s year Walsall EBP decided to replace its ‘Ambassadors’ with Walsall EBP ‘Champions to reduce confusion.

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As part of this ‘re-badging’ process the opportunity was taken to:

i) increase the quality and effectiveness of the Walsall EBP ‘Champions’

ii) increase the number and scope of Walsall EBP ‘Champions’ to include:

Enterprise Champion MFL Champion Construction Champion Retail Champion Business Champion Engineering Champion Health & Social Care Champion IT Champion Fair Trade Champion Environmental Champion

As part of the recruitment process all Walsall EBP volunteer ‘Champions’ (who are recruited from local organisations) agree to:

a) undergo an Enhanced Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check;

b) work within the requirements of the Walsall EBP Child Protection policy;

c) attend a short induction training session organised by Walsall EBP;

The new arrangements were formally launched at the Employer Conference in March 2010 and there are now a total of 37 WalsallEBP Champions in place.

Increased number of primary schools supported

The number of schools involved in theheats for the Primary School EnterpriseChallenge increased from 28 in 2009 to40 in 2010 which is really pleasing tonote. The teams of year 5 pupils, onceagain, showed a high level of enthusiasmand skill which often caused the judgesa real headache as they strived to selecta winning team to go forward to thefinal at Banks’s Stadium in June 2010.

The number of primary schools involvedwith other Walsall EBP education business link activities also increasedduring the year.

Introduction of Accredited H&S and First Aid Courses

The decision was taken by Walsall EBthis year to offer accredited H&S anFirst Aid qualifications to all studen involved in the Smart Choice employability skills programmes. Theshave been really well received and offthe students the opportunity t improve their confidence and th content and quality of their CV.

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Increased number of Engineering Roadshows

The demand for Walsall EBP Technology /Engineering Roadshows has continued togrow and events have been organised atsix different Walsall schools this year:

i) Brownhills Community Technology College ii) Frank F Harrison Engineering Collegeiii) St Francis of Assisi Catholic Technology Collegeiv) Castle Business and Enterprise Collegev) Queen Mary’s Grammar Schoolvi) Joseph Leckie Community Technology College

The feedback from the schools, studentsand employers at each of the eventscontinues to be extremely positive andit is obvious that this activity is fulfillinga really important need.

Maintained Award for Education Business Excellence (AEBE) Performance Standards

Having gained the Award for Education Business Excellence, in April 2009, the WalsallEBP team have worked hard this year tomaintain the necessary performancestandards. Walsall EBP will be due for re-accreditation in April 2012.