A new phase for education business excellence

IEBE News Release

Friday 29 June 2012

A NEW PHASE FOR EDUCATION BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

Through a major restructuring, the Institute for Education Business Excellence (IEBE) is extending its work on professional standards in education business practice to reach a wider audience than ever before.

With more than one million 16-24 year-olds out of work, the provision of high quality employability learning for young people in schools and colleges has never been more important.  When properly embedded across the curriculum, it helps provide them with a greater opportunity for successful transition from education to employment.  Young people benefit most when their employability learning is mediated by practitioners operating to the highest professional standards.  Since its creation in June 2009, IEBE has championed the need for this commitment to quality.

Two important changes now mark the next phase in the Institute’s development.

IEBE will be consolidating all of its work on professional accreditation with that of the newly-formed Institute of Employability Professionals (IEP), to create a single professional institute for all employability practitioners.  At the same time, IEBE will be extending its work on quality standards for schools, businesses and specialist providers by merging its assets into leading education charity HTI (Heads, Teachers and Industry).

In announcing the changes, Lord Knight of Weymouth, IEBE’s Chair, said:

“By focusing on the need for professional practice in developing young people’s employability, IEBE has helped change the culture of education business relationships.  It is a logical move to now integrate that activity with those doing similar work in the welfare to work sector, and create an all age employability institute with IEP.  At the same time, the other side of IEBE can now refocus its priorities on quality standards.  HTI’s track record in delivering quality school leadership development programmes means they are the perfect partner for this.”

The integration of IEBE’s professional accreditation framework with IEP was welcomed by its Chair, Janette Faherty OBE, who said:

“We look forward to drawing on IEBE’s ground-breaking work as we build the IEP, and provide a new home for all practitioners committed to professional standards in employability.  Current IEBE affiliates and members will have the opportunity to become part of an even wider community, supporting employability in young people and adults alike, offering all the benefits of learning and support across our respective professions.”

Speaking on behalf of HTI, its Chair Dr Noorzaman Rashid, said:

“HTI’s exciting deal with IEBE represents the latest development in a 25 year track record of innovation in education leadership.  We look forward to working alongside the Institute to support schools and businesses who see employability learning as a critical part of a whole and balanced education for young people of all ages; and a key enabler for their future success.”

Both changes take effect from 1 July 2012.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Through its quality awards for schools, businesses and specialist providers, IEBE sets and safeguards pre-19 employability learning standards.  Since June 2009, IEBE has established itself as a key player in the arena of young people’s employability, working with No.10, Cabinet Office, BIS, and DfE.  It has quality-assured almost 100 specialist providers of education business services, and recruited over 500 practitioners committed to becoming qualified education business professionals.  Through its newly-established employability hubs, it has started extending its reach into the community.   Most recently, it has launched Education Ready™ and Business Ready™, new quality standards for businesses and schools respectively.  www.iebe.org.uk

2. IEP is the professional body for the employment-related services sector.  It embraces all those working with unemployed young people and adults to reduce benefit dependency and improve their chances of securing sustained employment.  IEBE and IEP will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to align their products and services.  www.iemployability.org

3. HTI (Heads, Teachers & Industry) is a national independent charity and one of the UK’s leading providers of development programmes for senior leadership teams in schools and colleges.  HTI builds a unique understanding and co-operation between business, education and government to enhance school leadership and improve the employability skills and life chances of young people.  It was set up over 25 years ago by business leaders wishing to bring the education and business sectors closer to develop a mutual understanding about employability.  The arrangement will see IEBE‘s brands and products protected, and supported in future by HTI infrastructure.   www.hti.org.uk

4. Lord Knight of Weymouth is Opposition Spokesperson for Work and Pensions and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.  He was raised to the peerage in 2010.  In the previous government he held Ministerial posts on education, employment and for the south west region.  He was Labour MP for South Dorset from 2001-10.  He has been IEBE Chair since May 2011.  As part of the changes being announced, he will become an HTI Trustee and an IEP Board member.

Contact:

For more information contact Matthew Chiles on 07825 299443 or email matthew@iebe.org.uk.

Tags: AEBE, Business Ready, Education Ready, Employability, HTI, IEBE, IEBE Approved, IEP, Lord Knight of Weymouth, Professionalism, quality standards