West Midlands business leaders are today urging education
establishments to do more to equip school leavers for work.
As record A-level results are announced, Birmingham Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (BCI) says there are encouraging signs that
more entries have been made this year in the core subjects.
Bridget Blow, President of the BCI, says: "There have been an
extra 7,882 entries for maths and 1,382 for further maths, coupled
with an increase in the number of students studying chemistry and
physics at A-level.
"While these figures are encouraging we need to work more
closely with the education sector to ensure that school leavers
have the necessary skills that industry needs.
"With only 60 per cent guaranteed university places, it is a
growing concern as to what the future lies for these young
students, given the fragile economic situation.
"The national number of NEETs (not in education, employment and
training) is approaching the one million mark and it is paramount
that efforts are made - by local authorities, colleges,
universities and employers - to help this generation gain full
access to the appropriate courses or training facilities which will
fulfil the needs of business."