70 000 new work experience placements influenced by Work Inspiration campaign

Sir Stuart Rose announces success of the campaign – one year on 

Steve Holliday, chief executive National Grid sets goals for 2010

The Work Inspiration campaign (www.workinspiration.com) has achieved major success in its first year. Sir Stuart Rose, chairman of Business in the Community (BITC) and Chairman of M&S announced the results to business leaders and young people at an event held at BT Tower today.

The event will be documented at Amplified10 in real time and near time. You can follow the event online from the comfort of your home/office or even your phone and we’d love you to contribute by Tweeting your comments using the hashtag #workinsp or commenting on the content that appears on the page.

Exactly a year on we have 400 companies signed up as Work Inspiration employers and a staggering 70 000 placements influenced as a result of the campaign.

The Work Inspiration campaign (www.workinspiration.com) has achieved major success in its first year.  Sir Stuart Rose, chairman of Business in the Community (BITC) and Chairman of M&S announced the results to business leaders and young people at an event held at BT Tower today.

Results highlighted by the chairman include:

• 70 000 new Work Inspiration placements across the UK
• 400 new companies signed up to the campaign, including: ASDA, British  Gas, Eversheds, John Lewis, Cadburys, CBI, Microsoft and Lantra - touching the lives of almost 6 million employees*
• Today Tottenham Hotspur and Barclays pledge their support 
• The debate went cross-country. 18 Big Conversations have taken place around the UK - each one connecting young people and CEOs
• Sector groups have taken up the Work Inspiration banner to address their own recruitment issues, these include media (ITV), professional firms (Cap Gemini), the agricultural industry (Rural and Agriculture Society) and sports and leisure
• Based on feedback from the campaign the Education and Employers Task Force have integrated it into recommendations made to government about a new definition of work experience, and the need to ensure it is part ongoing learning about the world of work

“I am delighted to be able to report that exactly a year on we have 400 companies signed up as Work Inspiration employers and a staggering 70 000 placements influenced as a result of the campaign.

“The success of this campaign is dependent on the corporate sector recognising its responsibility to ensure that every young person who walks through the doors gets the most inspiring and rewarding experience possible.  Looking at the results today, we are certainly moving in the right direction.” said Sir Stuart Rose.

Momentum and growth continues, demonstrated by Barclays and Tottenham Hotspur who recently signed up to the campaign, as well as continued CEO support from MITIE, Boots Alliance, Eversheds, BT, Northern Foods and many others who attended on the day.

In addition, a partnership between City & Guilds and Business in the Community was announced to produce an evaluation report on Work Inspiration. The report will showcase the impact of Work Inspiration across businesses of all sizes and across all sectors with a focus on employee engagement, skills gain into the business and social mobility.

Sir Stuart Rose today said goodbye as the outgoing chair and a welcomed the new lead Steven Holliday, chief executive, National Grid.

Steven Holliday: “I am hugely excited, not only about the results of the campaign to date, but also to be given the opportunity to build on the success already achieved. 

“The time has come for all employers to consider Work Inspiration as an integral part of their businesses and I urge all organisations out there to take the time to review their work experience programmes and to ensure that we make every young persons experience inspirational.

“By implementing the Work Inspiration programme every business in the UK has the opportunity to make a significant impact to the lives of student’s and their career decisions in the future.  Today you can make a difference too if you have not signed up to the campaign as yet I encourage you to so,” said Steven.

ENDS

For further information or interview opportunities please contact Linda Considine on 0750 237 2774 or at linda.considine@yahoo.co.uk

Notes to editors

Work Inspiration is a UK wide campaign lead by Business in the Community to help employers turn work experience into work inspiration.  By becoming a Work Inspiration employer, businesses of any size and any sector show their intent to rethink the quality and quantity of their offer to the benefit of both the young people and the employees who volunteer to host them during a work inspiration placement.  For further details www.workinspiration.com.

* 6 million is the number employees of employed by our 400 organisations that have signed to the campaign.

Visit our Schools and Colleges campaign - The first national Visit our Schools and Colleges campaign is gaining momentum with hundreds of schools and colleges inviting local employers to visit and talk to them about how they can help young people aged 5 – 19 gain the skills they need for working life. Charity, the Education and Employers Taskforce, has organised the national campaign for business leaders to visit state schools and colleges during the week of the 18 – 22 October 2010.Taking part in Visit our Schools and Colleges week is free to everyone and only requires 1 or 2 hours of your time in the week of 18-22 October to visit a school/college in your locality. For further details and to register to take part visit: www.visitourschools.org  Employers can register until 11 October and schools/colleges until 1 October.

Champion organisations include:  BT; M&S; McDonald’s; Royal Mail; Chime Communications plc; National Grid; Serco; Boots; Eversheds and Barclays.