News Item

On 25th March 2010 Leeds Ahead organised and hosted a full day of fact finding for the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). The aim of the visit was to inform future policy making for the DCSF, specifically in the areas of business engagement in education and delivering long term sustainable outcomes for children through work related learning.

Leeds Ahead was chosen to host the day because of the work already undertaken in sourcing quality business engagement for schools. The event follows the recognition recently awarded by the Audit Commission and a similar fact finding visit by Birmingham City Council earlier in the month.

During the visit a number of Leeds Ahead member businesses were engaged in open discussion of their work in the community, the outcomes achieved so far and the future direction of their business engagement programme. The day included a visit to Premier Farnell and Cockburn College of Arts where the college demonstrated their own social businesses which have been set up with the help of business engagement.

Leeds Ahead Members participating in the day were Pinsent Masons, OHS Ltd, Aire Valley Homes Ltd, Ecotec Ltd, Logistk Ltd, Premier Farnell Plc.

The DCSF found the day both stimulating and thought provoking for helping frame future policy direction and were genuinely surprised at the level of engagement undertaken.