75% Of North West Parents Value Traditional Learning Such as Maths and English Over Creativity

'OUT OF TOUCH' parents are trying to steer their children away from pursuing lucrative 21st Century careers, because they don't understand the opportunities, a study shows. 75% of North West Mums and Dads believe that conventional academic subjects such as Maths and English, taught at School and beyond, are more valuable than creative and new technology subjects.

Ahead of A-Level results day, new research has revealed that despite the creative industries being 1 of the fastest growing sectors, with an estimated 2 million jobs available, there is still a sentiment from parents that they wouldn't be happy if their child chose to pursue a creative career. Parents would appear to have overlooked the opportunities available within expanding fields such as:- game development, visual effects, art, music and social media, according to a poll of 1,000 parents of under 18 year olds, commissioned by Escape Studios.

When asked which degrees would be most valuable from a lifelong career perspective; North West parents identified as their top 3 choices:- Mathematics (14%), Computing (14%) and Medicine (12%). The arts ranked in the bottom ½ with only 5%. These findings showcase the importance of educating parents in the growth of the creative sector, as the future workforce will help to build our growing creative industries, which as of 2018 contributes ₤101.5 billion to the economy.

Due to parents' lack of understanding of the career options available within the creative industries, 39% said they would try to influence the degree their teenager chooses to study at University. Parents stated that they would be happier if their children opted for career paths such as training to become a:- Scientist (22%), a Doctor (26%) or an Engineer (22%), while the most disliked future career paths were identified as:- Social Media Influencer (32%), Bloggers (31%) and Gamers (33%). Only 5% of parents wanted their child to pursue being an App Developer or Coder, even though the creative industries can offer many lucrative job opportunities. Forecasts predict the UK could create up to 1 million new jobs in the sector by 2030.

North West Parents believe that the most important subjects for their children to study in:- School are Maths (72%), English (67%) and Computing (58%). Crafts, Art and Design and Music each received less than 10%.

Parents need more support when it comes to understanding the opportunities available within the creative industries. The classical boundaries between industries are also rapidly becoming blurred, due to advancements in technology; as a result, there is a need for digital skills in more conventional roles too. Indeed, recruiters within the creative industries are sourcing talent from varied backgrounds, such as science, art and engineering.

The North Wests parents participating in the poll acknowledged that allowing their children to play video games offered some benefits, including the development of their problem solving skills (52%), logic skills (52%) and communication skills (25%).

Director of Escape Studios, Dr. Ian Palmer, comments on these abilities, 'Skills such as problem-solving, decision making, risk-taking, and communication can all be used in jobs across the creative industries. Alongside storytelling and imagination. Children that adopt to technology at an early age learn skills that offer them a better chance of getting a job in the digital sectors. We know there is a wealth of opportunity in terms of roles that are also future proof. It's predicted that 87% of creative jobs are resistant to automation, creating a very resilient creative workforce."

Despite this, over ½ of North West parents (53%) think that smartphones shouldn't be allowed in School, as a tool for learning. However, 71% admit that allowing their children to use technology from an early age, is beneficial for their development.

The top 5 jobs that North West parents would ideally like their children to pursue, are:-

1. Doctor (26%)
2. Engineer (22%)
3. Scientist (22%)
4. Lawyer (14%)
5. Architect (11%)

The top 5 jobs that North West parents ideally don't want their children to pursue, are:

1. Gamer (33%)
2. Social media influencer (32%)
3. Blogger (31%)
4. Stockbroker (19%)
5. Pilot (7%)

Dr. Ian Palmer, Director of Escape Studios adds;- "The creative industries continue to grow at a substantial rate; despite this, not enough parents are aware of the opportunities available to their children within this sector. At Escape Studios, we offer courses in Game Art, Animation, Visual Effects, and Motion Graphics. We have a wealth of alumni who have gone on to have successful careers working on everything from Avengers: Infinity War, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Guardians of The Galaxy: Vol 2, and the Oscar winning film, The Jungle Book. This is a rapidly growing industry that's ready to welcome talent from all backgrounds and with a wealth of skill sets."

So what are your views on this? Please email us your thoughts on this topic via:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

Failed robber jailed after teenage victim fought him off with a bike seat

A violent man has been jailed after he tried robbing a 16 year old boy by threatening him with a knife and even claiming his was going to set him on fire. Stephen Smith repeatedly asked the teenager about his bicycle while the 2 waited for a train at Maghull North Railway Station, Merseyside, in March 2019. When the platform was deserted 24 year old Smith pulled on a balaclava and held a knife to the victim's throat and shouted:- "give us your bike." He pulled the bicycle away and tried leaving the scene, but was chased down by the determined victim, who removed the bike's detachable seat and beat Smith over the head with it. He also pulled off the attacker's balaclava. The 2 struggled; exchanging several punches, with exasperated Smith yelling:- "just give me the bike" and adding:- "this is me dinner!" He eventually shouted:- "that's it I'm gonna light you on fire" and pulled a deodorant can and a lighter out of a bag, but was disturbed by a witness and fled the scene without the bike.  The victim suffered a black eye, pain across his upper body and face where he had been punched, a bite on his shoulder and a cut to his right finger. Smith, of Maple Close in Sefton, Merseyside, was in prison for a separate offence when he was tracked down in May. He said the CCTV of the attack was a:- "disgusting" watch and claimed never being at the station despite DNA evidence directly linking him to the scene. He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of a bladed article and was sentenced to 4 years at Liverpool Crown Court, on Friday, 9 August 2019. Detective Constable Jonathan Raymond, of the British Transport Police, said:- "This was understandably a very distressing incident for the victim. Smith is a very violent individual who thought nothing of attacking a boy and using extreme threats to get his way. The fact that he targeted a boy, who he wrongly assumed would be an easy target, just shows how cowardly he actually is. The judge commended the victim for his bravery during this incident and I would like to do the same."

Leaders across the North demand a 'Northern Budget' to deliver infrastructure boost

LEADERS from across the North of England have today called on the Government to commit to a:- 'Northern Budget' in order to deliver a boost to the Region's economic fortunes. The call, which is backed by members of Transport for the North's Board; who collectively represent more than 15 million people across the North; asks the new Government to deliver on commitments previously promised as part of the Northern Powerhouse agenda. It comes just days after the Chancellor announced a fast tracked spending round for Government departments for 2020.

Northern leaders are calling for a commitment to 3 core "asks" for the North of England to get the bare essential in better transport infrastructure in the short, medium and long term. It includes a commitment to a ₤7 billion Northern Infrastructure Pipeline, featuring road and rail projects which could commence in the next 5 years and have the potential to transform connectivity in the short term. The "asks" call on the Government to consider both short and long term commitments to the North, at both this year's fiscal event and the longer term review of infrastructure spending now slated for 2020.

It includes:-

► Commitment to a ₤7 billion Northern Infrastructure Pipeline; a list of shovel ready road and rail projects to be delivered by the mid 2020's.

► Commitment to build the full ₤39 billion Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) network by 2040.

► Commitment to ₤1 billion for Transport for the North over the next 3 years to deliver on its vision, including funding for the development of Northern Powerhouse Rail and other road and rail schemes.

It follows a pledge by the Prime Minister to turbo-charge infrastructure by delivering a new high-speed rail line between Manchester and Leeds, and his commitment on the campaign trail to be the leader of his party in July, where he said that Transport for the North were: "making a very, very good case here for ₤39 billion investment in east-west connections from Liverpool to Manchester, Bradford, Leeds."

Barry White, Chief Executive of Transport for the North, said:- "The North is now at the top of the national political agenda, with promises to balance out the UK's economy and unleash our potential by better connecting our Towns and Cities. We now need a Northern Budget to make both the shovel ready projects and the ambitious longer term programmes like Northern Powerhouse Rail a reality. Closing the productivity gap between North and South is essential if we're to compete on a global stage, but the North's constrained by creaking infrastructure. These are the minimum requirements needed to overturn the underinvestment, under different Governments, stretching back decades. It'll ensure the North becomes greater than the sum of its parts and will get the UK firing on all cylinders. Whilst the Government is planning for a 1 year spending round for its departments against a Brexit backdrop, there is no reason why we can't see real commitment and recognition of the ambitious pipeline of infrastructure investments the North so badly needs."

To find out more about the need for a Northern Budget, visit:- TransportForTheNorth.Com. So what are your views on this? Does it affect you or any of your family? Please email us your thoughts on this topic via:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.