Introduction
During 2005/2006 the Humber EBLO has worked predominantly with Secondary and Special Schools, most of which have been very active in developing work related learning and enterprise provision for pupils.Marketing
The EBLO team are most effective when they have face to face contact with schools and businesses and this has been significant in the past year, continuing to contribute to EBLO’s reputation of an organisation that ‘delivers’. EBLO Managers are key to the strengthening relationship with schools and businesses and between schools and businesses; they have key contacts in each of the schools. All schools have been kept updated with the ever changing Portfolio of Activities, the pages of which appear on the EBLO website. The website has received regular updates and at the end of July 2006 recorded 6,787 hits, an increase of 25%. Employer engagement has been enhanced across the sub region. The second Business Education Conference took place in June 2006 attracting 280 delegates; there were 30 networking sessions, presentations from Rachael Lowe, Dame Mo Brenan and Tim Sanders and a marketing challenge in which 80 Primary children took part.Work Related Learning
In 2005/6 all Secondary and Special schools were contacted and offered EBLO support for WRL and Enterprise. All Secondary Schools have taken up the offer at a variety of levels.Enterprise
The Enterprise Advisory Service was strengthened to five full time equivalents. The support of this team was offered to all Secondary Schools with the aim of establishing enterprise frameworks for policy, leadership and pupil provision.Labour Market Information (LMI)
LMI is an important ingredient to WRL, providing information about job opportunities available at local, sub regional, regional and national level. This helps to influence career pathways, the provision of qualifications and training and to influence the aspirations of young people. Progress has been achieved by presentation and dissemination of local, current LMI in a variety of formats.Professional Development Placements
EBLO has focussed on providing programmes for Secondary teachers this year. There were 450 PDP days.Business Engagement
The database of employer links was reviewed; for WRL activity it currently stands at 312 with an additional 7,000 registered to provide work experience. 62 new businesses were recruited for WRL this year. With the aim of engaging more employers to support the New Diplomas, a suite of marketing materials has been developed in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, the Hull Business Forum and City Learning. These were piloted at the Business Education Conference and are due to be circulated to a wider audience after a reprint in September.Work Experience
There is a full work experience report available as part of the EBLO Annual Reporting. There were 10,159 work experience placements taken up during the last academic year. However, it was disappointing to see that 1,410 pupils did not make use of this opportunity.Finally, please put this date in your diary:-