Employer Conference 2007 - Warwickshire Web

Warwickshire Education Business Partnership

Employer Conference 2007

'Working with Schools to achieve 'Skills for Business'
Launch of 'Employer of Choice Awards 2007'

Warwickshire Education Business Partnership (WEBP) held its second annual Employer Conference at the Trident Technology and Business Centre in Leamington Spa, on 16th May 2007.

The theme addressed the employability of school leavers, with inspirational keynote speakers Bruce Draper, 'Britains Best Boss 2006' and Corri Van de Stege, Head of Skills for Young People with the Sector Skills Development Agency, giving their take on this theme to an audience of local employers.

The event culminated with Warwickshire’s Employer of Choice Awards, launched by Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic Development Cllr Chris Saint to an enthusiastic audience.

Delegates had the opportunity to attend workshops, which focused on

Corporate Social Responsibilities in Small and Medium Enterprises; Investing in the community and overcoming the barriers.
Introducing Winners of the ‘Warwickshire Employers of Choice’ Awards 2006; looking at positive outcomes of flexible working and other employee benefits
The 14-19 Agenda: Collaborating to create the future, employer engagement and the new Diploma.
Influencing career choices through Work related learning and SETPOINT

WEBP presented awards to companies and individuals who had supported and worked with the partnership in various capacities. Bryan Campbell, Chair of the WEBP Board and Coporate Security Director of Ford Britain and Premier Automotive Group presented the awards.

The award winners were:

Best Small Company - Merlin Electrical, based in Nuneaton. With only 10 staff, Don Thomas, Managing Director has encouraged his team to support the work of the WEBP at many events, giving a valuable insight for countless young people into the Electrical Trade and construction skills. Merlin Electrical has helped a local school to set up a skills centre in which Don regularly attends and encourages his staff to share their knowledge there too.

Best Medium Company – Hanson Building Products, based in Rugby.
Hanson has contributed to many different initiatives in the Eastern Area, and has used the WEBP programmes for staff development. It also supported a two day 6^th form conference last year and recently committed to more future events.

Best Large Company – Premier Automotive Group (Jaguar/Land Rover). PAG has coordinated and encouraged employees to support the WEBP across Warwickshire. PAG has attended a huge number of WEBP initiatives, more than 90 per cent in the north particularly, and has used the partnership’s our programmes to develop their own employees skills. Ruth Martin has also promoted the WEBP events internally and has coordinated volunteers with each of our areas.

Science Technology Engineering and Maths support award – Dunlop Aerospace Braking systems. Dunlop Aerospace has been valued supporters of WEBP and recently provided a group of staff to become Science and Engineering Ambassadors (SEA’s). These dedicated people have specifically focused on the support of STEM, and have given purposeful and centred support to local schools.

Best Newcomer Award - FullRange Media, based in Hatton, Warwickshire. This company has worked with the WEBP for only three months, but in that time has lent its full support to the Enterprise Ambassador programme, presented a Real Context Problem solving challenge, and stepped in at short notice to run another challenge. FullRange media’s business is cutting edge and feedback from young people has been so positive and enthusiastic about their approach.

Outstanding Contribution - Nancy Singleton, Stratford District Council. Nancy is a Health Improvement Coordinator who has given us unstinting support for many years, and has recently driven an initiative for the WEBP, The Bell Inn, Warwick Primary Care Trust and Stratford Town Partnership to develop a programme based on healthy eating. Nancy is hoping to develop this programme further across the region.
Her drive and enthusiasm is tremendous, and she is passionate about working with young people and developing their skills for later life.

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