Northamptonshire-based Silverstone Park developer MEPC has appointed Gaia Innovation to launch Inspiration for Innovation, a pilot project to help young people in the area achieve higher level skills and better career opportunities, as a result of greater engagement with local employers (www.gaicinnovation.com).

More than 20 businesses have already volunteered to take part in the initiative, which starts in September.

They will work with Kingsthorpe College in Northampton, Buckingham School and Silverstone University Technology College.

Following the pilot, the aim is to roll the programme out to more schools in future years.

Students will receive up to four ‘positive interactions’ with employers during the academic year; these could be presentations, work-place visits, workshops, one-to-one discussions or work experience.

A major aim of the businesses involved will be to inform young people about the importance of core skills for employment; there will also be a focus on inspiring more girls to consider careers in engineering.

Julia Muir, Gaia Innovation founder and chief executive said: “Our philosophy is that employers — particularly those with skills deficits — are best placed to inform teachers and inspire youngsters to equip themselves with the right skills for the 4th Industrial Revolution.

“We introduce youngsters to the people working in these sectors and take them to see these ‘real models’ in their workplaces.

“We ensure that the volunteering process is easy and enjoyable for the employers, and we measure the impact of every interaction with the school.”