The Harbour School in Portsmouth, an Alternative Provision setting that supports young people with complex social, emotional and mental health needs across the city, has launched a new programme linking some of its most vulnerable learners with local employers to help them see a positive future.​

The ‘Harbour Future Skills’ initiative, launched in September, has so far brought nine local organisations into the school’s Bridge campus to run practical sessions, talk about jobs in their sector, and invite students to visit real workplaces, with more organisations set to join in the coming months.

Around fifteen Year 10 pupils, with additional students joining where appropriate, are already taking part as the school works to boost confidence, raise aspirations and reduce the risk of any young person leaving education or being not in education, employment or training (NEET).​

Harbour Future Skills runs on Thursday afternoons at The Harbour School’s Bridge campus, with a different focus each term. Students start with an employer‑led careers talk in school, move on to hands‑on practical activities, and then round off with visits to real workplaces so they can see local jobs and industries for themselves.

The project is being delivered in partnership with Portsmouth City Council and local charity Shaping Portsmouth, whose Shaped By Solent initiative has helped connect The Harbour School with employers across the city.​

Andy Taylor, Portsmouth City Council’s Skills & Employment Officer said: “Employers engaging with Harbour Future Skills project is a ‘win-win’ – it helps to inspire young people and for them to learn more about the wide variety of careers available. It also helps employers to raise their profile and recruit their future workforce. We’re keen to hear from more employers who would like to engage in this project”

During one of the first activities has been a festive workshop run by local facilities specialists Mitie, collected foliage to bring to the classroom to make their own Christmas wreaths.​ During another previous visit, one usually hard‑to‑reach student was captivated by the grounds team’s equipment and has now been offered extra one‑to‑one time with the visiting groundsman, opening up a possible pathway into work he had never considered before.

Other partners are already making an impact. At the Royal Maritime Hotel, aspiring young chefs from The Harbour School have had the chance to work alongside kitchen staff in a busy professional environment, learning practical skills like cake decorating.​

Visitors from the Mary Rose have used supportive conversations about behaviour and choices to steer students towards roles in security and visitor services, showing them how their strengths could be an asset in the workplace.

A member of staff at The Harbour School said:
“It has been great to see participation increase over the course of the term and the students growing in confidence, enabling them to ask more pertinent questions about their future. Each session seems to capture the interest of different students, helping those supportive relationships between student and employer to develop.”

Jane Marshall, Careers and Harbour Future Skills Lead at the school, said:
“Our students face a lot of challenges, both in and out of school, so it can be difficult to capture their interest – but the response has been incredible. We’re seeing some young people who might usually switch off in lessons fully engaged with sessions and asking when the employers are coming back. Having relatable role models, many of whom have overcome their own difficult starts in life, shows our students that there really is a future for them in Portsmouth if they choose to seize these opportunities.”​

Sarah Ricketts from Mitie said:
“Lee and I had a blast helping the students make Christmas wreaths today – their creativity and excitement made the event a delight to be part of. We look forward to continuing our seasonal activities into the new year and hopefully reaching more budding horticulture enthusiasts.”​

David Knight from the Royal Maritime Hotel said:
“Oscar and I really enjoyed getting involved and sharing the cake decorating with the learners at The Harbour School. We were made to feel very welcome by everyone, and we both felt that we reached some young people in the session – it was a great experience watching and helping them create these cakes.”​

The school and its partners now hope to build on these early successes, with plans to widen the range of sectors involved, including more opportunities that may appeal to girls, and create clear routes into college courses, mentoring and, where appropriate, work experience and apprenticeships.​

Further employer visits are planned for 2025 as Harbour Future Skills grows, and the school expects to share more success stories with the Portsmouth community over the coming months.​