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The Ladder for Shropshire is back in action to ensure that as many young people and businesses benefit from apprenticeships this summer.

The Ladder initiative started in London when HRH the Duke of York issued the challenge for a multi-organisation campaign to address youth unemployment. The Evening Standard came forward to lead the media coverage and the initiative was born.

The Ladder for Shropshire, backed by the Shropshire Star, was launched in March 2015. HRH the Duke of York agreed to be patron of the campaign and hailed the Ladder as a “local solution to a national problem”.

It is designed to encourage businesses to create more opportunities for young people, so taking advantage of the talent currently available locally. Since its launch the Ladder initiative has supported hundreds of employers and young people to sign up to apprenticeships.

Following on from a previous successful event the Ladder for Shropshire will be supporting Shropshire Apprenticeships Live, an open event for young people, parents and employers who would like to find out more about apprenticeships and how to become involved.

All the main colleges and training providers will showcase their offer, and in addition this year the universities will be on hand to outline higher and degree apprenticeships.

Employers already involved will be on hand to discuss their opportunities or to offer advice to employers considering getting involved.

Shropshire Apprenticeships Live will take place on March 27 from 2pm to 7pm at Shrewsbury Town Football Club. To find out more telephone 0800 999 8441 or email ladder@apprenticeship-providers.co.uk

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AN all-female team of budding young inventors from Staffordshire has teamed up with a global engineering giant as part of the MNA Stem Challenge 2018.

Aged between 13 and 14, the team of six girls from Staffordshire University Academy in Hednesford has partnered with thyssenkrupp (UK) – the German steel group with its UK base in Solihull and a major operation at Cradley Heath.

Overseen by Midlands News Association, publishers of the Express & Star and Shropshire Star, the STEM Challenge aims to boost pupil engagement in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths by bringing together 25 teams from schools across the Black Country, Shropshire and Staffordshire to pit their creative skills against one another.

The contest is also a prime opportunity for students to form valuable links in the world of industry, with each team paired with a representative from a business or organisation who acts as their mentor throughout.

Scott Williams, director of teaching and learning at Staffordshire University Academy, has been charting the team’s progress. He said: “Given that there is a national shortage of women working within STEM-related professions, we’ve really embraced the chance to get female students more involved in these subjects, which is why we’ve decided to put an all-girl team forward for the competition.

“The girls have all demonstrated potential and talent in STEM subjects, with enthusiasm and drive, and their parents have called in with excitement about the project.”

Each team is tasked with designing a product that aims to improve or enhance the quality of life for a group or person considered to be disadvantaged.

The team will display its final product as a working model during a presentation event, which is due to take place at Dudley College of Technology on July 5. The design will be judged against four criteria – Best Work Plan, Best Team Work, Best Operating Model and Best Presentation.

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A LABOUR MP has added his voice to the growing opposition to draconian proposals aimed at restricting press freedom.
Dudley North MP Ian Austin has warned that Section 40-style costs sanctions proposed in the Data Protection Bill could bankrupt newspapers.

He said today: “I will continue to speak up for the Express & Star and its staff who do so much good work in the Black Country.”
His comments came as Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said all politicians should aim to ‘protect the freedom of the press’. Last month the House of Lords backed legislation that if implemented would force newspapers to pay libel costs, even if they were victorious in court.

Prime Minister Theresa May said such a move would ‘undermine high-quality journalism and a free press’.
Along with Culture Secretary Matt Hancock and Environment Secretary Michael Gove, she has stated her intention to ensure the vote, which included backing for a wide-ranging inquiry into the media, would be overturned.

Speaking today, Mr Austin said: “Having a free press that holds the powerful and wealthy to account is a vital part of living in a free, open and democratic society and I don’t think the freedom of the press can be governed by politicians.”
He said previous allegations of criminal behaviour involving newspapers were concentrated on ‘people at one or two national newspapers’.

“This should not undermine confidence in the press more widely, especially campaigning local papers like the Express & Star which operate to the highest standards and which have not done anything wrong at all,” he added.

“I am worried that Section 40 could lead to a situation in which a newspaper is sued, wins the court case but then still has to pay significant costs to the unsuccessful claimant at the behest of a press regulator.

“Regional papers like the Express & Star make a make a huge contribution to the communities they serve and had absolutely no involvement with criminal activities at national papers, so it’s very hard to see what problems are solved by forcing them to sign up to costs sanctions that could bankrupt them.” As it stands, no significant publications have chosen to sign up to Section 40. The majority of the industry – including national newspapers, regionals and magazines – has signed up to a tough new system of self-regulation under the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso), which started in September 2014.

Members of the public who have been helped by the E&S have also expressed their opposition to Section 40. Pastor Robert Cooper sought the help of the newspaper when he was told his wife of 18 years would be sent back to Brazil.

Adna Cooper was refused a permanent visa and returned home, despite the couple having lived in the UK for several years. After a series of stories and support from a local MP, the Home Office granted a temporary visa for Adna, reuniting the pair in the UK.
Mr Cooper, aged 43, from Brierley Hill, said: “It was difficult to know where to turn, it felt like I was on my own facing a losing battle.
“But with help of the Express & Star I was able to raise my issue and I soon received wide support. People still stop me today because they recognise my face from the stories in the newspaper. It might have been a different story if the Express & Star had not got involved.”

Suzy Richards has also hailed the work of the E&S. Her family was torn apart in 2015 when three members of it were killed in a terrorist attack in Tunisia.
Her son, Joel Richards, aged 19, his uncle Adrian Evans and grandfather Patrick Evans were all killed when a gunman opened fire on a beech.

Ms Richards has since set up a charity called Smile For Joel, a fund for families which have been hit by terror attacks. She said: “We have worked with the Express & Star closely, raising the profile of the charity and the continuing work we are doing.

“We found the newspaper helped us get results and I remain in contact with journalists from the paper on a regular basis today.”

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He was the star attraction at the Wolverhampton Literature Festival.
And acclaimed writer Will Self’s new radio series has a strong focus on the Black Country.

Will Self’s Great British Bus Journey sees the award-winning writer and journalist touring urban Britain using public transport.
In the BBC series Self ‘travels only by coach and bus, assessing British identity at a time of flux’.

Self visited Spon Lane in West Bromwich – described by 20th Century writer JB Priestley as ‘the worst street in England’. Priestley reviewed the street, which is now overlooked by the M5 motorway, in the 1930s.

He dubbed Spon Lane ‘Rusty Lane’, saying: “I have never seen such a picture of grimy desolation as that street offered me.
“The whole neighbourhood is mean and squalid but this particular street seemed the worst of all.’

Self next set off for Wolverhampton, where he visited the Express & Star office to interview investigations editor Rob Golledge.
He praised the paper for its high circulation and serious news agenda.

The 56-year-old dined at the city’s renowned Indian restaurant Bilash – where the infamous ‘Curry Coup’ to oust Tony Blair was hatched – before heading to The Giffard Arms for a night of entertainment.

After his evening at the venue Self described himself as being ‘suitably bashed about’ – before probing reasons behind the city’s youth unemployment.

Click here to listen to the Express & Star interview by Will Self when he visited the offices in Queen Street. The recording is from two minutes in.

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The father of a teenager killed by a speeding driver has backed an Express & Star campaign for tougher sentences.

This newspaper launched the Stop the Speeders petition last week after reporting on two men jailed for less than eight years for each causing the death of a man by dangerous driving.

So far, the petition has more than 1,100 signatures. It calls for judges to put down longer sentences for killer drivers and will be sent to Prime Minister Theresa May.

The latest person to back it is Richard Evans, whose daughter Georgie Evans, a former pupil of Kinver High School, died when her car was hit by an Audi A6 driven by Kuba Oles.

The Polish immigrant was speeding along Priory Road in Dudley when it happened, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The 24-year-old, of Beaconview Road, West Bromwich, fled the scene after the crash. He was later jailed for six years, after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

The parents of Miss Evans, from Himley, could not attend the court hearing as they were still too upset, following the crash on October 27.

But today Mr Evans said: “We lost our daughter 27th October 2016 on Priory Road, Dudley, due to a driver speeding at nearly 100mph in a 30mph zone.

“He struck her car with such force it tore it in half. She hadn’t a prayer.

“The driver then made off from the scene and handed himself in 18 hours later – he was sentenced to six years imprisonment and probably will be out in four. We are paying the ultimate sentence. Enough is enough.” Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Oles was helped to the side of the road by passers-by but fled from the scene when their backs were turned.

He did not hand himself into the police until 18 hours later, making it impossible for him to be checked for drink and drugs.

He then tried to pass blame onto the victim, claiming she was inexperienced and had been travelling too slowly.

But these allegations were dismissed by the findings of the police investigation.

The crash took place at the junction of Cedar Road. Judge Challinor, who also banned Ole from driving for 14 years, said: “This was a prolonged, persistent and deliberate course of bad driving with reckless disregard for other road users.

“It was just a matter of time before your precipitative actions led to catastrophe. You pose a significant risk of causing serious harm through your driving.”

Figures from the Department of Transport show 54 people died on the roads in the West Midlands in the 12 months up to October 27.

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