The target is based on existing evidence showing that the more exposure to employers students have the higher their chances of employment and the higher their future earnings are likely to be.
The first six Opportunity Areas were revealed by education secretary Justine Greening during her address to the Conservative Party Conference earlier this month.
They are to be West Somerset, Norwich, Blackpool, Scarborough, Derby and Oldham. The areas, which have been identified by the government’s Social Mobility Commission as the most challenged when it comes to social mobility, will have access to funding to address some of the barriers they face. Further Opportunity Areas are to be unveiled later this year, the DfE has confirmed.
In her address, Ms Greening said: “We will trial a new approach. It’s going to take teachers and schools, communities and it’s going to take business.
“For teachers and schools (in these areas) there will be extra support. Partnering them up with schools and teachers who have already raised standards and turned around schools elsewhere in the country.”
Ms Greening also said that the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) – set up last year by the government to improve careers guidance – would have a key role to improve careers advice and employer engagement in the areas.
Young people there are also to be targeted by the National Citizen Service – the government’s volunteering initiative.
After Ms Greening’s announcement, the CEC confirmed that it would be investing £1 million in the Opportunity Areas.
One of the key aims of this funding, it said, will be to give every student in secondary schools and colleges in these areas at least four encounters with employers, “in line with evidence that this significantly increases rates of employment and earnings”.
Ms Greening added: “Business has an absolutely vital role. I want to see businesses spotting and polishing up the talent of a new generation – the rough diamonds to make sure we unlock the talent of everyone in our country, but especially the children in these Opportunity Areas where it’s most likely to be missed.”
This week, the DfE released more details of how the areas are to work in practice. A statement said: “Opportunity Areas will see local partnerships formed with early years providers, schools, colleges, universities, businesses, charities and local authorities to ensure all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
“Opportunity Areas will also be given prioritised access to a wider support package helping young people from nursery right through to starting work. The package includes a teaching and leadership innovation fund worth £75 million over three years focused on supporting teachers and school leaders in challenging areas to develop.”
Meanwhile, the CEC is investing a further £3 million across other parts of the country in local programmes that can “demonstrate their effectiveness in working with young people in greatest need of support, including those with SEND and pupils at risk of becoming NEET”.
The total of £4 million of CEC funding will be invested via the second round of grants from its Investment Fund and organisations running relevant careers and enterprise programmes and initiatives will be invited to apply for the funding later this year.
Successful career and enterprise programmes must have a “proven positive impact on supporting young people into work, such as work experience, workplace visits, careers talks and volunteering”.
Claudia Harris, chief executive of the CEC, said: “We are determined to improve social mobility and ensure that young people get the right support to transition into the world of work.
“This money will scale up many of the existing, proven careers and enterprise programmes and ensure that young people get multiple opportunities to learn from employers through the course of their education.”
In March, the CEC confirmed 33 organisations had successfully bid for £5 million from the first round of funding to deliver careers and enterprise interventions.
Meanwhile, schools wanting to find out more about how the Opportunity Areas will work can email the DfE on opportunity.areas@education.gov.uk