Young people attending Alternative Provision settings across the West of England are set to benefit from more tailored and meaningful work experience opportunities from September, following the award of £102,600 through The Careers & Enterprise Company’s Aspiring Pathways programme.
The funding follows a successful year-long pilot of the equalex framework delivered by the West of England Careers Hub. The initiative explored practical ways to help young people who have been excluded from mainstream education or face behavioural, emotional, medical or mental health challenges develop the skills and confidence needed for future employment.
Developed by The Careers & Enterprise Company, equalex creates a shared framework for learners, educators and employers, providing a clear understanding of what career readiness looks like. The model outlines a pathway of knowledge, skills and experiences designed to support long-term career aspirations and successful transitions into employment, education or training.
The investment comes at a critical time. Department for Education research shows that two in five young people in Alternative Provision fail to progress into positive destinations after Year 11, compared with fewer than one in ten learners in mainstream education.
To address this challenge, the West of England Careers Hub has worked closely with schools and employers to create a graduated, trauma-informed approach to work experience. The model allows learners to engage with employers in familiar school environments before progressing to external placements, helping them build confidence and develop workplace skills at a manageable pace.
During the pilot year, more than 70 learners took part in meaningful employer-led experiences spanning engineering, construction, law and the creative industries. Participating organisations included Bowmer + Kirkland, the Centre for Modelling & Simulation (CFMS) and YTL.
The programme reported strong outcomes, with learners demonstrating increased confidence, improved work readiness and greater awareness of potential career pathways.
Building on the pilot’s success, the new funding will support the rollout of the programme across all eight eligible Alternative Provision settings in the region during the next academic year. More than 100 learners are expected to benefit.
The participating settings are:
- Snowdon Village, Barton Hill
- Pathways Learning Centre, Downend
- St Matthias Academy, Fishponds
- Lansdown Park Academy, Stockwood
- Voyage Learning Campus, Weston-super-Mare
- Vinney Green Secure Children's Home, Emersons Green
- Bristol Hospital Education Service, Montpelier
- North Star 265, Sea Mills
The announcement aligns with wider regional efforts to improve skills, employability and opportunities for young people. Earlier this year, the West of England launched a £2 million Mayor’s Youth Support Fund and approved a new Skills Strategy aimed at creating a more joined-up employment and skills system.
The Aspiring Pathways programme, backed by £8.5 million in Department for Education funding, will enable every state-funded Alternative Provision setting in England to provide meaningful work experience opportunities and strengthen pathways into employment, education and training.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“To achieve our ambition to become the country's first NEET Zero region, the West of England has to also help the young people who are furthest from the labour market.
"The pilot year of equalex has shown how, with the right support and working with employers, more young people in the West can unlock their potential despite the challenges they may be facing. We're hopeful that this additional funding will make the programme even more successful over the next educational year.”
Image credit: iStock
