To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning how he is working with the Minister of Education to develop partnerships between companies and schools so that young people are encouraged to develop careers in industries that are facing a present or projected skills shortage.

My Department has established a number of working groups, which I chair and co chair, in sectors which have been identified as vital to rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy and providing economically relevant skills to the workforce. The Department of Education is also represented on these groups which include the advanced manufacturing, food processing and ICT sectors to identify and address the skills challenges facing each sector.

The groups bring together government, academia and local employers to identify skills needs associated with the particular sector and develop appropriate solutions through an agreed Action Plan. A number of key programmes have been put in place to promote the sectors, increase attractiveness and ensure employees and prospective employees have the required skills. Through the action plan the groups work with employers and career attractiveness campaigns feature prominently to help encourage career choices in each sector to help long term skill shortages.

My Department also works closely with the Department of Education, as well as other relevant departments and industry representatives, to deliver against the recommendations set out in the STEM Strategy for Northern Ireland: Success through STEM, to deliver a skills pipeline in science, technology, engineering and maths. Evidence continues to highlight that growing the number of economically relevant STEM qualifications will be central to Northern Ireland’s economic success and it is essential that our young people are encouraged to follow study and careers in STEM.

I also recently established, with Minister O’Dowd, a Careers Advisory Forum which includes representatives from business, education and other key stakeholders. A key role of the Forum is to facilitate engagement between employers, educators and other stakeholders, and to improve employer links with schools at a local level.

My Department is also developing a work experience system which will improve access to placement opportunities for all young people, highlighting areas where we anticipate employment growth, and provide a platform for employers to promote their sectors.