Supporting local business through alternative education pathways

Our programmes for 14–16-year-old students offer three alternative pathways— Turnaround, Inspire, and Career Step— designed to nurture young talent and support them in achieving academic and personal success.

Designed to not just benefit the students, this bespoke provision provides multiple advantages to local businesses by helping create a skilled and motivated future workforce.

Turnaround – A 10-week placement designed to boost students’ confidence and overcome barriers to learning. By focusing on English and maths functional skills alongside personal development, the programme helps students prepare for a successful return to education.

Inspire – Specifically designed for 14-16-year-olds who may not thrive in traditional school settings, this programme offers full-time, small-class education. With personalised learning and one-to-one support, students build strong academic foundations in areas like GCSE English, maths, and science.

Inspire prepares students for post-16 education, easing their transition into vocational training and, eventually, the workforce. Local businesses can benefit from students who are ready to continue their education in technical fields, ensuring a pipeline of well-prepared candidates for apprenticeship or entry-level positions.

Career Step – This pathway provides Year 10 and 11 students with the opportunity to gain vocational qualifications one day a week in areas like construction, engineering, and hospitality. By connecting students with hands-on learning, businesses can foster relationships with young talent early, helping to shape the skills and attitudes needed in local industries.

NWSLC's alternative provision provides local businesses with the opportunity to engage early with future talent, contributing to the local economy and workforce development.

Steve Harcourt

President of Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

The big focus for businesses in Coventry & Warwickshire has obviously been the recent Autumn Budget, the first for the new Government and the first from a female Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP. It was always going to be a tough first Budget and we were all expecting there to be some hard medicine to swallow. However, we know that businesses need a long-term plan and a sense of stability.

There was also a strong hint of optimism with it, and we have to ensure that we’re there to support the businesses who might be hit by the changes and ensure that, in this area, we build on the strength of our regional economy and make the most of that investment that has been promised.

I will be joining the ‘Local Economy of the Future’ panel session at this year’s Chamber Annual Business and Economic Conference and I’m sure the impact of the budget announcements will be a key area of discussion. I very much look forward to seeing many of you at the IXL Events Centre for this important event and, as a Director of Prime Accountants Group, we are pleased to be the main sponsor for this year’s conference.

Recently in my role as Chamber President I had the pleasure to visit Dawood Ibtehsam, and his team, for a behind the scenes tour of his new McDonalds franchise in Warwick. Whilst we all view McDonalds as a huge, global corporation, for franchisees it is very much a local operation, employing local people and investing back into communities and our local economy. Dawood is also ambitious for growth and, as a Chamber of Commerce, we can support him in taking those next steps.

I also recently attended the Chamber’s International Trade Summit, hosted at Holiday Inn Coventry, and sponsored by Lloyds Bank. It was a day packed with conversations about how exporting products and services can be a strategic route to growth for many businesses. It was fascinating to hear from businesses such as Lawton Tubes and Truede, who are taking products made in Coventry & Warwickshire to a global audience.

The Chamber’s International Trade Hub is always here to support new, and existing, exporters and so if you would like to explore how exporting can support your business growth, please do get in touch – internationaltrade@cw-chamber.co.uk.

As we head towards the end of 2024, I can only reflect on another incredibly busy year for businesses, for the region and for the Chamber of Commerce, as we continue to support thousands of businesses in the region to connect and grow. We will continue to be ‘the voice of business’ in our region and we very much look forward to working with you in 2025.

For now, may I wish you a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I hope you have the opportunity to rest and relax over the holidays.

Steve