Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, has launched a new campaign to encourage young people to consider future careers in the Tees Valley, as students across the region learn their A level results.
‘Stay Local, Go Far’ is part of the £3m Tees Valley Combined Authority’s TeesValleyCareers.com initiative to support the region’s 100,000 young people, aged between 11-18, to give them high-quality careers guidance and contact with more than 1,000 businesses across a range of sectors.
Every year, 30% of young people leave the Tees Valley to attend university or to secure an apprenticeship, training or employment elsewhere, despite the global businesses and innovative companies based in the region.
Job vacancy numbers too have recovered and, in July this year, were up 35.7% on the pre-Covid-19 figures of February 2020.
This campaign aims to raise aspirations, as well as highlight the career options available as the area benefit from new opportunities.
This includes at Teesworks, home to the UK’s largest freeport, and Treasury North and Trade North, which will bring in some of the government’s most important departments to Darlington.
As well as as these, the region has a growing clean energy, biologics, advanced manufacturing and digital sectors, amongst others.
A host of information, videos and case studies will point to roles within cutting-edge businesses, with more details of how students can secure the skills they need to take advantage of them.
The scheme will complement the TeesValley.Jobs website, which contains live job listings for roles of all types currently available in the area.
Commenting, Mr Houchen said:
“We’re working hard today to secure the jobs of tomorrow, but there is no point creating good-quality, well-paid jobs if local people from across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool aren’t taking advantage of them.
“Businesses right here are leading the UK and the world, but young people still think they need to go to a big city like London, Manchester or Leeds to succeed.
“This changes now with the new Stay Local, Go Far campaign.
“I want every young person receiving their A Levels today and GCSEs later in the week to know that they can have a rewarding career in their hometown and help it to thrive and there’s no need to travel for hundreds of miles to advance.
“There are opportunities for everyone, to suit all tastes and through whatever route people feel most comfortable with, whether that be through university, training or apprenticeships.
“We now need to shout louder than ever to get our young people into these jobs so they can help shape our bright future.”
PSE will be hosting a Learning & Development event on 3 February 2022. Join us for the event by registering here.
