EMPLOYERS have been called upon to give teenagers a leg up into the world of work.

Mick Farley, director of the learning and skills council Cumbria, said employers had a "critical " role to play in helping 14 to 19-year-olds gain key skills for the work place.

At an Appleby Training and Heritage Centre awards evening he said work experience, and mentoring schemes were vital ways in which companies could make a difference to young people.

He said by keeping schools posted about the kind of expertise they were looking for and providing learning materials employers could help plug the skills gap.

"Our goal must be that throughout the 14 to19 phase more and more of our young people have opportunities to learn technical and vocational skills.

"Such opportunities are central to the drive to improve workplace skills and critical if we are to ensure that employers in the County have the skills at craft, supervisory and technical levels that they need."

He also praised a partnership forged between Appleby Training and Heritage Centre and Appleby and Kirkby Stephen Grammar Schools offering a range of vocational courses.

He said it was a "significant and exciting development in Upper Eden" which offered young people chance to access a broader curriculum without having to travel to Kendal or Carlise.

April 24, 2003 09:30