The education charity that has helped Tower Hamlets school pupils prepare for the world of work for the past 26 years is now expanding south of the river.

East London Advertiser: Tower Hamlets Business Partnership helping puipls [pictures: Tony Hussey]Tower Hamlets Business Partnership helping puipls [pictures: Tony Hussey] (Image: THP Photo Imaging)

The Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership independent charity is adding five secondary schools in Greenwich to give more pupils a better start to their future beyond school.

It has begun a series of conferences and workshops run by volunteers from businesses over the summer term helping 600 pupils, following its success since 1991 helping youngsters in deprived neighbourhoods of London’s East End.

“We are extending our reach beyond Tower Hamlets to help more youngsters learn about the world of work and imagine their future beyond school,” the charity’s director Helen Sanson explained. “Pupils in Greenwich, as in Tower Hamlets, get higher than national average GCSEs, but can struggle to convert this potential into employment readiness.”

The programme is running conferences for pupils aged 13 to 15 to introduce them to the working world through activities that develop employability skills, presentation and project management. Enterprise and financial literacy workshops are also being held for all ages for finance education, entrepreneurial skills and how to manage money at university.