New Chief Executive for Career Academies UK
Thursday 10 December
Career Academies UK, which provides once in a lifetime business networks and experiences for young people aged 16-19, has appointed James McCreary, the current CEO of Young Enterprise London, as its new Chief Executive.
Commenting on the appointment, Sir Win Bischoff, Chair of Career Academies UK, said: "We are pleased to welcome James McCreary as the new Chief Executive of Career Academies UK. He has done a wonderful job at Young Enterprise London, significantly expanding business links with schools and colleges and we are sure that his depth of knowledge and wealth of experience in both the public and private sector will help to significantly drive forward the work of the charity."
James has a background in banking and worked in the financial sector for 23 years, before going on to become the CEO of a Belfast-based company. Prior to taking up his post at Young Enterprise London in 2001, James volunteered with the charity for 10 years and is passionate about helping to develop the potential of young people.
On his appointment, James said: "I am delighted and very proud to have been chosen to lead Career Academies UK through its next phase of development and hope to build on the excellent work that has already been done.
"At a time when raising the aspirations and employability skills of our young people is more crucial than ever and as millions of teenagers face the alarming prospect of unemployment, Career Academies UK provides an excellent solution to ensuring that they are properly prepared for the world of work. In particular, the way that the programme engages business in that process is the key factor to its success. The challenge for 2010 is to forge many more of these meaningful collaborations, ensuring that wherever possible employer support is placed at the heart of young people's school or college experience."
Career Academies UK works with over 700 employers and 120 schools and colleges to demonstrably improve students' achievement and attainment. 95% of Career Academy graduates progress on to higher education or into a job with an equivalent level of training, compared with the 40% predicted to do so at the start of the course.
For further information, please contact
Amy MacLaren, Rebecca Griffiths or Katy Breddal at Colman Getty on 020 7631 2666 or 07980 843 088
amy@colmangetty.co.uk / rebeccagriffiths@colmangetty.co.uk / katybreddal@colmangetty.co.uk
