The transformation of careers education for young people across Cumbria has begun with the launch of a New Careers Hub – one of only 20 to be piloted across England.

Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP) launched the Cumbria Careers Hub at an event attended by more than 100 education and business leaders from across the county.

The Cumbria Careers Hub is a group of 40 local schools and colleges working together with universities, training providers, employers and career professionals to improve careers education.

Its primary objective is to better prepare young people for the world of work.

The launch event included a keynote speech from chief executive of the Careers and Enterprise Company, Claudia Harris, who outlined the importance of career hubs in helping to deliver a national policy focused on increasing productivity and ensuring all young people had access to quality careers education.

She also revealed her desire to see Cumbria Careers Hub lead the way nationally.

Caroline Ledward, manager at Cumbria Careers Hub, said: “Working with the Careers and Enterprise Company, local education and skills providers and employers, our aim is to provide more support to schools and colleges in developing high quality careers and enterprise education programmes.

“We want to build on excellent practice evident in parts of the county to secure greater consistency and depth in the quality of careers education and guidance.

“By doing so, we will give young people better access to the world of work through intervention such as work experience and connecting schools and colleges with employers and careers programme providers.”

The event also heard from Roger Wilson of Roger J Wilson Associates and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s head of skills and talent, Jacq Longrigg, who gave an employer’s perspective of the importance of the Enterprise Adviser Network.

The Network sees employers deliver inspiring and engaging careers education in participating schools and colleges across the county.