Schools and colleges throughout the region have been invited by education foundation Edge to join the website and register the opportunities for employers to help deliver work-related learning. Schools across the county have already signed up and local businesses can now be among the first in the country to go online to search for the activities available, which range from giving a one hour presentation to providing support for the new diplomas.

Business in Schools is Edge's response to the overwhelming lack of employers assisting with work-related learning in schools and colleges. While almost 90 per cent of employers in Hertfordshire think it is vital for young people to get practical experience of the workplace while in education, only a handful (5 per cent) are fully involved with local schools and colleges.

Local employers who do engage recognise the business benefits of working with schools and colleges, citing recruitment opportunities (36 per cent), improved staff skills (21 per cent) and a better public image (18 per cent). However, local employers overall said a lack of time (32 per cent) and resources (25 per cent) are the main barriers to getting more fully involved.

Jonathan Bramsdon, Edge's Partnership Director, says, "For years employers have highlighted their dissatisfaction with the key skills of young people leaving our schools and colleges, well now is their chance to do something about it.

"When we spoke to Hertfordshire employers about working with schools and colleges, they called for more information and a dedicated website to help them. We hope Business in Schools will be the answer they've been looking for, making it easier for them to take their business skills out of the boardroom and into the classroom thereby ensuring the workforce of tomorrow is better prepared and job ready."

Eight-two percent of Hertfordshire companies currently working with schools and colleges said promoting the business as a good place to work was their motivation for getting involved in education. This was closely followed by helping young people gain experience of work (81 per cent) and wanting to put something back into the community (73 per cent).

Gareth Humphreys MBE, Education and Young Person's Advisor for Hertfordshire-based MBDA, is supporting the Business in Schools campaign. He says, "Our partnership with local schools and colleges has allowed us to connect with the workforce of the future, and influence and shape the next generation of engineers. Importantly, it has also helped us provide professional development opportunities for our staff while also reducing recruitment costs notably for engineering and commercial apprentices."

Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry Chief Executive, Tim Hutchings, adds, "Supporting the workforce of the future is key to our ongoing prosperity and success. If we are to keep our existing companies whilst attracting new investment ensuring that they can access well motivated and qualified staff is axiomatic. At the Chamber we are totally committed to playing an active role in supporting the development of young people in our county."

Mr Hutchings and Mr Humphreys will be speaking at the launch of Business in Schools at Hatfield House in Hatfield on 24th September between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. Keynote speakers joining them include David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce and Miles Templeman, Director General of the Institute of Directors.

The campaign originated from in-depth research conducted by Edge in 2007 which found that 74 per cent of employers and 98 per cent of schools see a mutual benefit from employers engaging in education. The research, 'Raising the bar and removing the barriers', also highlighted a real need for a mechanism that would for the first time easily and effectively connect business with schools and colleges. The result was the creation of Business in Schools.

Visit www.businessinschools.co.uk for more information.

Edge commissioned YouGov to survey 400 employers by telephone between 16th June and 2nd July. Qualitative research took place via two online forums with employers between 27th June and 14th July; face to face in-depth interviews with staff from 10 schools and colleges between 9th and 18th July; and in-depth telephone interviews with EBPs between 16th July and 24th July.

Enter Paragraph here

Hertfordshire companies are being challenged to help young people get ready for the workplace with the regional launch of Business in Schools today, a new campaign and unique website that connects business with education. David Frost, Director General of British Chambers of Commerce, and Miles Templeman, Director General of the Institute of Directors have lent their support.