HISTORY

Although Education Business Partnerships were active in some parts of the country nearly twenty years ago, the real impetus for the movement came in the early 1990's and by 1995 almost every part of the country had an EBP servicing its local schools, college and business community.

Their key support agencies and host organisations differed (some LEA based, some in Careers Services, some in TECs and some independent) and their core activities varied to reflect local needs and circumstances - but they did share a number of common goals

Put very simply these included

preparing young people for the world of work in particular and adult life in general
raising teacher awareness of the world of work and the work-related curriculum
to contribute to the raising of standard achievement via work-related contents
to support the business community in its need to create a world class competitive
workforce for the future
to promote the benefit of lifelong learning

In 1995 a number of EBP managers from across the country met and agreed to establish an organisation that would provide local EBPs with a national voice of their own - an organisation that might provide collective support and leadership and an organisation committed to ensuring education business activity of a high quality nationwide.

Support across the country grew quickly and in 1998 it was decided to consolidate this growth by establishing the National EBP Network as a company limited by guarantee and by successfully seeking status as a registered charity.

Registered Company Number : 3564861
Charity Number : 1069947


 

The core purpose and aims of the NEBPN are as follows:

PURPOSE

The objects of the Network are

to advance the education of pupils and students, at local schools and colleges in particular, by promoting the efficiency of education and business partnerships in England and Wales and Northern Ireland so as to improve the educational preparation and training of young people to prepare for proper employment

"Education Business Partnership" means a partnership between educational and business organisations aimed at developing and promoting sustained links for the benefit of students, local schools and colleges

AIMS

The National Network will

	recognise the varying nature, role and funding of EBPs across the country
	recognise and work with the national link organisations and other bodies who support education and business partnership activity
	establish and promote regional fora of EBPs
	serve to inform and advise business organisations on education-related developments and initiatives, and involve them in decisions on curriculum development
	promote a corporate image and national identity
	organise a national conference and regional seminars
	maintain regular contact with national link organisations, national employers and government departments to provide a coherent view from EBPs and to contribute to national policies
	ensure EBPs are represented at major national conferences
	consider and disseminate development and funding opportunities for EBPs including the potential for shared resources and joint bids
	share and disseminate good practice among EBPs, to provide moral support and a strategy for delivery
	provide a channel of communication between EBPs, with national organisations and other partnership networks
	provide a national focal point for debate, advocacy, action and dissemination relating to education business partnership, funding opportunities and research

In June 2000, the Government announced its wish to see Education Link Business Activity organised and delivered in a more coherent national format (for England) and indicated that this would be via 47 Consortia of all Education Business Link Organisations which would each contract with the 47 Local Learning and Skills Councils to be established from April 2001.

For the members of the NEBPN this represented yet another challenge. EBPs are of course, EBLOs - now they had to negotiate and agree local partnership with other identified EBLOs (eg Young Enterprise, Trident, Business Dynamics, CITB) in the 47 new LSC areas.

A variety of models have emerged - reflecting local history and circumstances - and members of the NEBPN have been encouraged to play a full and positive role in making the Consortia work. Nationally the Network has led the campaign for adequate resources for these Consortia.