“Top Qualities: Great Results, Personable, High Integrity. Jane has consistently proved herself and her team to be a very effective 'partner' in achieving the specific brief given. For TTE, I wanted to set up a significant program of schools liaison to attract young people on to our engineering apprenticeship programs. Jane could see the vision immediately and was able to add significant value. I will certainly work with Jane again as/when the opportunity arises. On a personal note too, Jane is a lovely person to work with!"

Neil Davies, Chief Executive, TTE Training Limited, 2008

(This programme ran 2006-2008) 

“The work that Business Education Matters (BEM) did for the North East Higher Skills Network made an enormous difference to our business. Few organizations can bring such insight to this area and BEM not only helped us to get information about how Network resources were being used but helped to shape business planning between funding rounds. It was also a pleasure to work with an organisation that understood our business and worked with our members to produce the required outcome.”

Colin Wilkinson, Director, North East Higher Skills Network, 2009

(This project ran 2007-2009) 

“The Changing Perceptions of Industry (CPI) programme has clearly been successful in its core purpose of changing the perceptions of the process industry for a wide range of students. It has also been beneficial for company employees as they have to deal with challenging questions and observations from the students.”

Felix O’Hare, Site Director, Croda Wilton and Chairman of the Wilton International Reputation Group, 2009

(This programme runs 2008-present

“The Industrial Related Learning (IRL) Programme has successfully highlighted the relevance of the science curriculum to real situations in the process industry. It has also provided excellent development opportunities both for the students and the scientists and engineers in the various companies which have participated in the programme.”

Felix O’Hare, Site Director, Croda Wilton and Chairman of the Wilton International Reputation Group, 2009

(This programme ran 2006-2009)

“Business Education Matters (BEM) originally devised and has subsequently successfully managed the Chemicals Northwest secondary schools programme, Collaboration of Schools and Industry (CoSI).  As part of this programme BEM, over the last 5 years, has linked numerous NW schools with industry to improve students’ and teachers’ perceptions of the chemical industry, and to increase their understanding of how science works in ‘the real world’ and the skills / roles of those working in the industry.  One of the aims of the programme is to encourage more students to study science subjects and consider careers in this sector.

Jane and her team of Associates are passionate about connecting schools and industry and have devised some excellent models for facilitating this and making the process easy and accessible for all concerned both schools and chemical sites. They also have a robust mechanism for evaluating the impact of these interventions.

Chemicals Northwest is happy to recommend BEM and their methods for connecting schools and industry.”

Jenny Clucas, Chief Executive Officer, Chemicals Northwest, 2010

(This programme runs 2005-2011)

“The partnership between Business Education Matters (BEM) and the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)/Pfizer Discover Chemistry Initiative has been a real success.

In particular it has meant that over 3000 students have had the opportunity to see the UK chemical industry at first hand and I hope their experiences, ranging from pharmaceuticals and skincare to paint and polymers, will inspire a new generation of scientists.

The expertise BEM were able to bring to this collaboration in terms of planning and implementation was particularly helpful in facilitating a wider roll-out of this scheme. The examples of good practice from this project, which are now embedded within the RSC, will help ensure the links are sustained and provide a blueprint for future schools-industry partnerships across the UK.”

David Fox, Director, External Chemistry Partnerships and RSC Visiting Senior Industrial Fellow Pfizer Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, 2011

(This programme runs 2009-2011)