NEAT Business Breakfast Thank You

Thank You for Joining Us at the NEAT Business Breakfast

A huge thank you to everyone who attended our NEAT Business Breakfast at Benfield School. It was fantastic to see so many businesses, organisations, and community groups coming together with a shared goal—to support our young people and their futures.

Bridging the Skills Gap

One of the key discussions at the event was the skills employers find missing in school leavers when they start work. Around the tables, we heard common themes, including:

• Confidence in communication – speaking up in meetings, making phone calls, and presenting ideas.
• Problem-solving and adaptability – thinking on their feet and overcoming challenges.
• Workplace behaviours – time management, organisation, and professional conduct.

As a Trust, we want to work more closely with employers to help bridge this gap. Schools can support by:

• Embedding more real-world skills into lessons.
• Giving pupils more opportunities to engage with businesses, from career talks to work experience.
• Encouraging confidence-building activities like mock interviews and networking events.

Employers can play a huge role by:

• Offering insight days or short work placements.
• Supporting mentoring programmes for young people.
• Providing feedback and guidance on what they look for in new employees.

Hearing from Our Pupils

A highlight of the morning was hearing from some of our pupils about their career aspirations and what steps they are taking now to achieve them. It’s always inspiring to see young people so engaged and motivated about their futures.

Local Community Support

We also had an update from three fantastic local community groups that are making a real difference:

• Open Doors – helping adults return to work by supporting them with employability skills.
• Benfield Football Club – running a breakfast club to support families and ensure pupils start the day with a meal.
• Mind Matters NE – delivering their Bike and Banter programme, supporting adults who are socially isolated due to mental health or other challenges, helping them connect with others and explore the local area.

Looking Ahead