Our Employment & Skills Manager Adeana Raper gave a speech at the launch of Sheffield City Region’s Talent Bank, a programme which aims to support young people into the world of work.

The VIP business reception at Sheffield Hallam University was held by Mayor Dan Jarvis and South Yorkshire Futures and saw over 100 senior business leaders gather together from across the Sheffield City Region.

As part of the event, Adeana gave a speech about our positive impact on the local community, particularly our work at The Glass Works in Barnsley which has won multiple awards for community involvement, including our work with The Skills Village and engagement of local schools through the Enterprise Advisor programme.

Mayor Dan Jarvis said: “I believe that it’s not just the responsibility of schools, colleges and universities to educate and inspire our young people, but it’s also the role of all of us in society – and that includes our businesses. Where you grow up shouldn’t determine where you end up. By connecting schools and colleges with appropriate volunteers and business leaders, we can create new opportunities, broaden horizons, and plant the seeds of ambition from which we can grow the workforce of the future.”

Sheffield City Region and South Yorkshire Futures have teamed up with Inspiring the Future to launch the Talent Bank. By supporting the programme, we will have more ways to help young people in Sheffield, including through offering careers advice and going into schools to speak about careers opportunities.

I was very pleased to be asked to speak at the launch of the Sheffield Talent Bank by the Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis, to showcase the work that Henry Boot Construction has been doing alongside Barnsley Council within local schools. To enable our region to grow we must inspire our young people to have aspirations; to enable them to realise their full potential. As employers we can assist by giving young people the opportunity to see our businesses, to give an insight to how a business operates and how they could contribute to the success of that business.

Adeana Raper, Employment and Skills Manager from Henry Boot Construction Limited

For more information about the Talent Bank and to sign up visit: https://www.inspiringthefuture.org/campaigns/inspiring-sheffield-city-region/