A drive to better engage Weymouth and Portland’s young people with the world of work has taken a big step forward.

Dorset Careers Hub, the first of its kind to be established in the region, was launched at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy.

Although working county-wide, the hub has a specific focus on the borough – Dorset's most deprived area.

A lead officer will work with a team of enterprise coordinators – including a designated person for Weymouth and Portland.

Schools and colleges will have access to support and funding, including staff to help coordinate activity and build networks, a central fund to support employer engagement activities, and training for careers leaders in schools and colleges.

The hub has come about thanks to Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC), Dorset Council and BCP Council.

The launch event was attended by more than 85 delegates representing education and employment.

Last year, CEC established 20 of these hubs across England. So far, the initiative has been a success as schools and colleges within this first wave are already outperforming the national averages for careers education.

Dorset Careers Hub comes as part of a second wave of hubs this academic year, backed by £2.5 million worth of investment. Dorset will receive £150,000 a year plus training bursaries to run the hub.

Dorset LEP, which manages The Careers & Enterprise Company programme locally, is now proud to launch Dorset Careers Hub.

Dorset LEP Director Lorna Carver said: “Good careers education is fundamental to ensure young people are equipped with appropriate knowledge and skills to navigate their future, make the best of their talents and achieve their full potential. The Dorset Careers Hub will bring together schools, colleges, universities and employers to work together to prepare our future workforce for careers filled with satisfaction.”

Dorset Careers Hub Lead, Helen Stevenson, said: “Our hub is made up of 40 local schools and colleges split into geographical clusters. Our aim is to support careers leaders to form communities of practice, share examples of excellence and collaborate to ensure greater consistency and depth in the quality of careers education.”

The careers hub model is already showing success. Schools and colleges included in the first wave are said to be outperforming the national average on every benchmark of good careers guidance. More than half are providing students with regular encounters with employers and a similar amount are also providing students with workplace experiences.