Within a lifelong learning context, how do we get the workforce we need for the District now and in the future to power and sustain economic growth by removing barriers and raising aspirations.
The major project for Education and Skills is Inspiring the Forest which aims to create a long-term impact on the aspirations and opportunities for all those wishing to work within the district. It seeks to bring business and education providers closer for mutual benefit.
The current chair of the Education and Skills subgroup is Julie Tegg, FEP Director and Director of Apprenticeships and Employment at Gloucestershire College.
Find out more about our project work below.
Young Enterprise
We are offering Forest of Dean schools funding for either the Company Programme or Launch Pad sessions with Young Enterprise, a nationally recognised organisation that encourages independence and entrepreneurial sparks in young people. We often hear there is a strong appetite to work creatively and independently amongst young people, and through this funding we are aiming to target students who may not fit with traditional academic learning by tapping into that enterprising potential.
This offer has been accepted by Dene Magna, Dean Academy, and Newent High School, and we will be supporting them as they set the programme up. Forest High School in Cinderford are running the programme but this is not funded by FEP, however we will be supporting them where needed throughout. Volunteers will be needed to support the students and teachers with this programme at all schools, could you help out?
The next volunteering days are,
Thursday 3rd July at Dene Magna
Wednesday 9th July at Forest High School
More information is available here or by emailing fep@fdean.gov.uk
International Women's Day 2025
In celebration of International Women's Day event 2025, we worked with 4 schools to bring panels of brilliant local women of varying backgrounds and careers to students, who had the chance to ask questions about their employment and education pathways. We ran this project to show that the Forest of Dean has so many opportunities here and young people don't need to move away for a good career. More information about this project can be found here.
Inspiring the Forest Careers Fairs
In 2022 and 2023 we hosted careers fair style events that specifically focused on Forest of Dean businesses. The purpose of this event was to showcase some of the incredible businesses and opportunities available to young people in the district. Please see the separate page for the Inspiring the Forest project. Click here for our Flickr album of photos.