Nick Clegg has outlined the Government's latest plan to inspire youngsters. The Deputy Prime Minister wants to get Employers into schools to talk about their careers. The scheme is supposed to give State School pupils access to the kind of careers advice that many Private Schools offer.
Clegg: 'It's the people who inspire you that's important'
The Deputy Prime Minister has spoken about the importance of a new initiative to inspire children. He said; "It's not just what you learn from a book that's important, it's also the people you speak to who can inspire you to make decisions about your own future."
Clegg describes inspirational teacher at careers launch
Nick Clegg and Joanna Lumley at school launch
Nick Clegg said he was inspired to be interested in politics by his history teacher Mr Smith, who "terrified the living daylights" out of him by telling him world war three was imminent.
Clegg: 'Successful people can help young people reach their potential'
Nick Clegg Credit: Reuters
The Deputy Prime Minister is driving efforts within the coalition Government to improve social mobility and ensure poorer youngsters are not hindered in life because of their background.
Mr Clegg said:
"Too many young people get the message that the best jobs are not for them.
"Inspiring the Future will give state school students the chance to see, hear and make a connection with someone in a career or job they might not have thought about.
"The power of making connections that inspire young people is immeasurable and can be life-changing.
"Many successful people can point to a moment in their lives when they were inspired to become the people they are today. Now it's their turn to help young people fulfil their potential."
Nick Clegg will help launch a new scheme to send workers into state schools to talk to children about their careers.
The Education and Employers Taskforce, the charity behind the plan, wants to sign up more than 100,000 voluntary speakers who can inspire youngsters about the possibilities that are open to them.
The scheme, called Inspiring the Future, is meant to give state school pupils access to the kind of careers advice and first-hand accounts that many private schools offer.