BUSINESSES are forging stronger links with schools and colleges, according to a survey of 1,000 companies in Oxfordshire.

The survey showed that 35 per cent of all employers have provided work-experience placements for 15 year-olds and nearly one third have done so for 16-18 year-olds at school or college.

The study, carried out by the Heart of England Training and Enterprise Council, also showed that 31 per cent of companies sponsored schools in some way, with 20 per cent helping schools with careers guidance or information.

Other ways in which firms helped schools were through giving business advice, giving staff time to act as school governors and helping with projects.

The TEC's education manager, Sarah Rusby, said: "The findings in the survey mirror the growth of the education-business partnerships in the county. They show that large companies are more likely to be involved in all areas of education-business links, except sponsorship.

"These links are not all about financial support and there is room for more small and medium-size businesses to become involved with schools and colleges so that their needs can be more precisely identified."

More than half of all employers said they were satisfied with young people's ability to work with others, their willingness to learn and ability to use computers.

However, only a third of employers were satisfied with young people's communication skills and only about a quarter are satisfied with young people's ability to write good English.

Companies put people management at the top of the list of skills problems. Other problem areas include: specialist technical subjects, problem solving and information technology.

Story date: Monday 26 April

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