Agenda item

1.      Mr Lavender tabled a comprehensive paper, (attached as Appendix 1), with the answers to questions that were forwarded to him in preparation of the meeting.  

2.      The Chairman asked Mr Lavender if he would highlight some of the points in his answers which included the following:-

To what extent, in your view, do students’ academic qualifications demonstrate students’ employability?

• Business Studies in schools are different to aptitude required in business. 
• 70%-80% of the students were not prepared about business.
• Often Students realised that they have the wrong qualifications to apply for the jobs they wanted
• Need to get businesses into schools at the time the students are discussing their options

3.      The Young Chambers had visited Grammar schools and primary schools to explain its role. 

4.      Mr Lavender explained that he had helped to set up a company in a Grammar school. They had a Board of Directors which he sat on.  When the students had a problem he was able to get a local business representative to come into the school to assist them.  He gave the example of Tower School, Ashford where the students wanted to set up a shop. He invited a manager from the local outlet centre to the school, who took the students through the process of setting up the business. He then invited a representative from a local bank to them financial advice.

5.      He gave another example of Invicta Grammar School for Girls, Maidstone, who had set up a wrapping paper business but were in financial difficulties with a deal to supply Harrods under the name “Young Chamber”.  He advised them that they could not use that business name unless they joined. Mr Lavender worked to get the school back into the Young Chamber through a menu of cutting their costs.  This was then hands off mentoring.  The students arranged the funds for the business.  The Head teacher has advised them that they would have to raise the funds themselves this year for the “Young Chamber” membership of £2000.  They were now holding fund raisers.  

6.      Mr Lavender advised that the “Young Chamber” was putting on a business Lunch on 8 July at 1-2 pm and many businesses had been invited and would welcome a representative from the Select Committee.  Mr Manion agreed to attend.

7.      Mr Lavender also spoke on the issue of keeping the graduates in the county.  There should be home grown talent.  He explained that Kent graduates rarely looked at businesses in Kent for their career path and were ignorant of what businesses were in their local areas.  They tended to get information from London, where large business/banks headquarters were.  He explained that he held a careers week where there were many local businesses represented including construction.  He said that not one person stopped at the construction industry stall.  He had to ask for the attention of the Forum and ask the construction stall to give 25 jobs that were possible in that industry including Human Resources (HR) payroll etc.

1.      Mr Lavender expressed his passion for what he did.  He said that he had been asked to many meetings often without the opportunity to speak. He felt that there was a great difference in pace in the way establishments worked especially from the perspective of a school and a business.

Employability Passport – Does it Work?

2.      Mr Lavender felt that this would be easier with the Young Chambers.  If a student had work experience in a business they would find out about the business.  Businesses say they want someone to knock on their door to ask for a job.  He considered that there was no point putting a student that wanted to be a mechanic in an office photocopying all day, it would be a waste of his time.

What is the way forward?

3.       Mr Lavender felt that the Wolf report was a good report and factual. If is to implemented it needed to be now, it was important.

4.       Mr Lavender felt that people who made a living teaching business but few had been in business and had today’s knowledge of business just commercial enterprise.  Now that the government no longer funded training which was £2000 and £2500 projects from commerce. 

5.       He felt that students were not a product they were the employees of the future.  Students that he had met did not know that they could work for themselves.

6.      In response to a question Mr Lavender advised that he gets involved with all of Kent’s schools but only two with businesses.

How can KCC help?

7.      Mr Lavender said that he would like to see some uniformity a basic standard.  Ask students where the problems were.  He stressed that he was amazed by the unemployability of students.  They did not know how to contact businesses. The knowledge on the street was lacking.

Do you see any new businesses?

8.        Mr Lavender said that he did.  He knew of a school that invited a business to the school and after the meeting offered 2 students apprenticeships.  He then gave the example of a young man who bought electronic gear and set up a company called CeX and was now a member of  the Chamber of Commerce.  Mr Lavender took him to schools to speak with the students to show what could be achieved.

9.       The Chairman asked for examples/case studies from Mr Lavender of young people who had achieved setting up their own business so that they could be used in their final report.

How can the Select Committee help to breakdown the barrier between the schools and the business world?

10.  Mr Lavender advised that this was going to be more difficult as schools transferred to Academy status.  He suggested that if there was backing the schools should be advised that this was a requirement to ensure the employability of students, which was paramount.  He felt that schools viewed view the Chamber of Commerce as commercialisation.

11.  He commented that some schools paid £7000 to hold an Enterprise day, when for £2500 they could have a years membership from the Chamber of Commerce that would set up this and more. 

12. Mr Lavender tabled information given to the schools on the Young Chamber (See attached).

13.A view was sought from the Work experience student who felt that what he had heard was useful and essential for students to know.  He said that he had set up a business selling chocolate in school.  It was against the school policy and he was stopped.  He suggested that reducing tax levels for business with apprenticeships may be an incentive.

14.It was suggested that although there was a conflict with the school values he should have been sign posted to how he could set up his business legitimately.

15.Mr Lavender was thanked by the chairman and Committee for attending the meeting.

Enc: additional papers referred to in paragraphs 1 and 20