Nick Pool, The Edge Learner Forum

Last updated at 17:02, Wednesday, 26 March 2008

THIS NOVEMBER there will be a massive exhibition at ExCel in London run by UK Skills, all about career opportunities for young people between 14 and 19.

More than 50,000 people are expected and everyone will get a chance to experience first-hand the range of skills and training open to them.

UK Skills is a not-for-profit organisation which champions skills and learning for work through competitions and awards. It was established in 1990 with the primary purpose of raising skill levels in the UK through skills competitions and managing the UK team which competes in the WorldSkills Competition.

This is like an Olympics for practical skills and is held every other year and the UK sends 30 young people to compete in all sorts of skills, from cabinet-making to catering.

UK Skills asked us at the Edge Learner Forum to be 'Youth Consultants' for the day and help them come up with ideas to inspire their designers with themes to create their stand for the event. We worked with Brathay, the outdoor centre in Ambleside, for a day this week; Brathay were asked to co-ordinate this work.

We were asked to consider how to make the target audience (14 to 19 year olds) see the UK Skills stand as attractive, approachable and be interested enough to stop, look and find out more.

We started by looking at the type of people who would be running the stand. We decided that for the target audience to be able to approach the people it would be better if they were of a similar age; “not some random bloke in a suit” as one of our team put it. We also thought it would be great if we could get past winners or competitors to take part on the stand, and for the interest of teachers when going around the stand as well that it could be interesting for them to talk to the UK Skills trainers to see what they have to go though with the young people.

 We then considered how the stand should look and this brought out loads of ideas about layout and colours.

We came up with a plan of creating a journey through a competitor’s or winner’s life, looking at what inspired them, and the idea of a maze was also introduced so people could be taken on a journey – “not knowing what new skill was just around the corner”.

For me the Edge Learner Forum has been a great experience; I wish I was given the choice or at least more information about practical learning when I was at school. I agree it’s not for everyone but for me it would have been a lot more interesting and probably more successful.

By being part of Edge I feel I am helping to increase the awareness of practical learning and helping others to be able to have a wider choice after GCSEs. I think other people should get involved with the Edge Learner Forum as it’s a great way to feel as if you are making a difference and a great way to meet new friends.

If you want to find out more about Edge and if you are interested in being involved with the Learner Forum in Cumbria then call Erica Wellings on 016974 76076 or visit www.edge.co.uk. For information on UK Skills visit www.ukskills.org.uk

First published at 15:53, Wednesday, 26 March 2008
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk