Digital Jersey Hosts Launch of New 14-16 Vocational Course

Posted: 23/02/2015

Digital Jersey, working in partnership with The Department of Education and John McGuinness, Headteacher of Grainville School, will hold the launch ev...

Digital Jersey, working in partnership with The Department of Education and John McGuinness, Headteacher of Grainville School, will hold the launch event of Jersey’s first Business and Enterprise Vocational Course on 24th February 17.30-19.00 at the Digital Jersey Hub.

The course is the first of its kind on the Island and has been designed as a practical response to Jersey’s current skills gap, with a view to building up the Island’s long-term talent pipeline. Starting in September 2015, students aged 14-16 from Grainville School will receive training from business leaders in workshops held at the Digital Jersey Hub, alongside opportunities to apply those skills in real-life business environments. Each student will be given £100 to fund a start-up Company, and those who complete the two-year course will receive a Vocational Qualification.

The course will see collaboration between government and business, and is both a response to the needs of industry and of the need to encourage the creativity and entrepreneurial confidence of young people in Jersey.

Carla Harris, Director at Digital Jersey, commented:

“This initiative follows work from the Education Department and Learning and Skills Technical Action Group of Digital Jersey, to foster links with the world of work and the business community. The programme is in total alignment with Digital Jersey’s Skills Availability and Development objectives of ensuring skills meet current and future needs for business and the community. The evening will be a great opportunity for local businesses to learn more about how they can get involved, become a business mentor and support each team with their start-up business idea.”

John McGuinness, Headteacher at Grainville School, added:

“The launch of this project presents a real opportunity to both our students at Grainville and I hope, in the future, all students in Jersey. The course will answer a deeply felt need for a closer partnership between business and education in Jersey, and provide students with confidence and experience in the world of business and entrepreneurialism, setting them up for the future on both a professional and a personal level. I would like to thank Digital Jersey, the Department of Education and local Island businesses for this opportunity."

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