A Government skills supremo has visited Bradford schools to find out how they are engaging with local businesses and preparing students for the world of work.

Heather Miller, deputy director of pathways to higher skills at the Department of Business Innovation & Skills, spent a day hosted by Bradford-based training body Aspire-i visiting two local secondary schools and meeting education and careers leaders.

She spent time at Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College learning about its links with Ilkley-based construction services group NG Bailey and the University of Bradford through its Industrial Centre of Excellence, aimed at developing partnerships between employers and education providers to develop skills.

At Dixons Allerton School Heather learned about its work with Morrisons in improving students’ employability.

Along with other BIS representative she then met senior leaders from Carlton Bolling, Beckfoot School, Parkside School and representatives from Bradford Council’s children’s services and Bradford Chamber of Commerce along with Aspire-i boss Caroline Harrison, who chairs Careers Yorkshire, to discuss the challenges of embedding skills minister Matthew Hancock’s inspiration vision statement on how employers, schools and colleges work together into every day school life.

She said: “It was great to see the Minister’s Inspiration vision being delivered in schools and colleges in Bradford. Headteachers, local partners and employers told us how important it was to embed careers inspiration and employer engagement throughout a school life so that students understand how their learning is relevant to the outside world and are confident to take the first step when they leave school.

“Meeting students meant we heard how beneficial this experience has been for them. It is important that the new National Careers Service role in Inspiration brokerage supports these kind of effective local partnerships.”

Careers Yorkshire has been awarded the National Careers Service contract for the Yorkshire region until 2017.

Caroline Harrison said: “This is a fabulous opportunity for Aspire-i to develop the service it offers via the National Careers Service across the Bradford district. Working in partnership, our aim is to offer support to people of all ages so that they fulfil their potential in life.

“By facilitating better links between employers and schools, we can ensure that young people are more aware of where their future job prospects lie.

Angel Watson, of Dixon’s Allerton School, said: “Being able to speak to someone who can influence policy changes was a fantastic opportunity for us.”