Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to establish a National Business Skills Guarantee for young people.

Through the department’s Careers Hub programme, The Careers and Enterprise Company and the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority are working in partnership with Goldman Sachs and Sir Richard Harpin to pilot the type of public-private partnership called for in the Maple Review, which recommended the establishment of a National Business Skills Guarantee. We welcome this pilot and will be monitoring it closely to assess the lessons that can be learned and whether the model could be rolled out nationally.

This public-private partnership pilot will:

• Connect more local entrepreneurs and start-ups with young people to help develop creativity, resilience and entrepreneurial skills.

• Support teachers through targeted professional development to increase their confidence and understanding of enterprise education.

• Offer a place-based model to connect local schools into priority growth sectors where the small business economy is needed and can thrive.

• Bring schools closer to the industries and businesses driving local economic growth, helping young people build relevant skills and aspirations.