• Helen Hayes MP, Chair of the Education Select Committee, visited The Charter School North Dulwich on Thursday 23rd January.  
  • The visit coincided with our careers fair attended by over 50 employers, professionals and training providers

Helen Hayes MP, Member of Parliament for Dulwich and West Norwood and recently elected Chair of the Education Select Committee, joined The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) to hear about tailored careers education delivered in her local area.

The visit to The Charter School North Dulwich emphasised targeted interventions to help students with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their best possible outcomes.

As part of the event, Helen met with senior representatives from Lloyds Banking Group and Mace to discuss businesses' critical role in bridging the gap between education and employment for young people facing additional barriers. Both businesses are Cornerstone Employers – members of the local Careers Hub - who work to promote pathways, upskill educators, parents and carers and drive better outcomes for young people.

Rita Patel-Miller, Associate Director for Sustainability for Mace, highlighted the company’s outreach programme, Constructing your Success. The programme targets students from Year 9 to 13 who are facing particular challenges, that could affect their prospects of employment. The programme develops employability skills and promotes a range of progression routes through industry experiences like site visits. Helen also heard from the Central London Careers Hub run by Reed in Partnership on how tailored interventions, such as career mentoring, SEND-designed work experiences, and many other initiatives, can make a real difference.

Speaking to students taking part in our annual Careers Fair, Helen heard how careers education at the school is helping young people to improve their knowledge of pathways including, apprenticeships, further and higher education, and career options.

Helen Hayes, MP for Dulwich and West Norwood said "We have so many brilliant local schools across Dulwich and West Norwood and today has been a shining example of the dedication and hard work of teachers and support staff in helping students succeed. It has been good to see the impressive outreach of businesses committed to engaging with schools to ensure every child has access to high-quality careers education, and to hear directly from students about how much they value these opportunities.

Oli de Botton, CEO of The Careers & Enterprise Company, added: "High-quality careers education is essential in preparing all young people for their futures, particularly those facing additional challenges. Thanks to Helen Hayes for joining us today; her visit underscores the importance of collaboration between schools and employers in creating meaningful pathways for every student."

Mark Pain, Headteacher, The Charter School North Dulwich, said: "It’s been a fantastic day for our students to explore a broad range of career opportunities alongside Helen Hayes and the fantastic businesses that joined us. Having Helen Hayes here to inspire them has been a real highlight.”

Ian Browne, Early Careers Lead, Lloyds Banking Group, commented: "Partnering with schools is critical to finding and securing the talent we need to thrive and grow. Today’s discussions reaffirm our commitment to supporting students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, in building their future careers."

Rita Patel-Miller, Associate Director for Sustainability, Mace said: “Mace is passionate about school engagement because inspiring and supporting young talent today ensures a diverse, skilled, and empowered workforce for the future of our industry. By nurturing potential early, we create opportunities for students to explore rewarding careers and contribute to building a better world.”

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