Schools and businesses across North Herts are set to take part in a nationwide initiative to help inspire and prepare young people for the world of work.

The Hertfordshire arm of The Careers & Enterprise Company is overseen by the Herts Local Enterprise Partnership, together with Youth Connexions, part of Herts County Council.

Local employers will work with the schools to help connect the curriculum to work opportunities, give access to workplaces, and provide relatable role models to students.

The participating schools include Marriotts, Barclay and Barnwell in Stevenage, The Priory in Hitchin, and Highfield in Letchworth.

Stevenage-based Airbus Defence and Space will be providing an enterprise adviser, as will Optimatrix, a consultancy firm also based in the town.

Optimatrix’s managing director Norman Housden will be taking part in the scheme personally as an enterprise adviser.

“When talking to business colleagues I constantly hear that they cannot recruit suitably educated young people into their companies,” he said.

“However my teacher friends are concerned that their pupils, even when achieving good grades, cannot find suitable employment.

“I am hoping that supporting this scheme as an enterprise adviser will enable me to bring a better joint understanding of the requirements, needs and aspirations at all levels.

“With the objective to instigate enduring activity and dialogue to ensure that, our young people are equipped to undertake and our business can provide meaningful employment opportunities.”

Adrian Hawkins, chairman of the Herts LEP skills and employment board and of Letchworth-based Weldability Sif, said: “We are proud to be part of this nationwide initiative to empower young people to succeed in their future careers and tailor skills provision to match enterprise activities in the county.

“The quality of enterprise advisers is key to its success and we are delighted to have already attracted several high-calibre individuals to work with an assigned school or college.”