Portsmouth South’s Stephen Morgan MP returned to his former school to speak with students and host an industry roundtable on how to support Portsmouth young people prepare for work and life.
Marking National Careers Week, the city MP spoke to 70 students across Years 9 and 10 at Priory School in Southsea about his career journey into politics, his hopes for the next government and the importance of helping young people prepare for work and life.
Following the talk, Mr Morgan hosted an industry roundtable arranged by social mobility charity Speakers for Schools with students, teachers, and local business leaders to discuss how to transition into the workforce, the skills needed, and the jobs available to young people in his constituency.
The roundtable discussed and agreed how government and decision-makers can better support young people in preparing for the workforce with the right skills and opportunities, particularly in the face of a fast-evolving workforce, and reported skills shortages across many sectors.
Commenting, MP for Portsmouth South Stephen Morgan said:
“It is a privilege to return to Priory School where my journey began to share my experiences with pupils whose passions were fantastic to see.
“In a rapidly changing world, it is crucial that our education system supports Portsmouth young people in entering the modern-day workforce.
“We must equip students in Portsmouth and across the country with essential skills and the confidence so they are ready for work and ready for life.
“That’s why Labour would give every young person access to professional advice and guidance at their school and ensure all students get two weeks’ worth of high-quality work experience.”
Dr Elnaz Kashefpakdel, Director of Policy, Research and Impact at Speakers for Schools, commented:
“Every young person should have the chance to achieve their potential regardless of their background or personal connections.
“Today’s session has been invaluable for forging links between local educators, employers and government to discuss how the education system can collaborate with employers to prepare young people for the world of work.
“We are grateful for Stephen taking the time to visit his old school and for bringing local businesses together to bridge the gap between school and work.”
Stewart Vaughan, Headteacher at Priory School Southsea, said,
“We are delighted to welcome back esteemed alumnus Stephen Morgan at our school. The students were so excited to see him and listen to his story and career tips.
“Talks like this are vital to spark our students’ self-belief and future aspirations, which is an essential part of our Game-Changers culture.
“We are always grateful to Speakers for Schools for offering our students such a diverse range of opportunities.”
To ensure every young person gets exposed to a range of career opportunities and are supported with expert advice and guidance, Labour will:
- Train over a thousand new careers advisors, and ensure all careers advisor have up-to-date knowledge of post-16 pathways, to give every young person access to professional advice and guidance at their school or college;
- Deliver two weeks’ worth of high-quality work experience for every young person at secondary school or college, coordinated locally by careers advisors and hubs.
