FILLING the skills gap in the workforce of tomorrow by acting now was the message to employers from the education sector at a networking event in Basingstoke.

Held at Milestones museum, the event was organised by Basingstoke Consortium, which arranges three types of work experience for pupils in local schools and needs more employers to step forward and offer placements.

It is looking for firms to take students on the standard two-week work experience scheme, extended placements - which cover a two-year period - and enterprise placements to give the above-average-ability student experience at executive or managerial level.

The networking event was organised by Jane Fowler, project manager for the enterprise placement scheme at the Basingstoke Consortium.

She told delegates: "business benefits as much as the students. Some businesses recruit from work experience."

After the meeting, she told Gazette Business: "Despite previous efforts and publicity, the consortium still struggles to find good work placements in successful and entrepreneurial businesses in Basingstoke."

At present, Mrs Fowler has found 200 placements for her special enterprise project but still needs another 200.

Julie Churcher, headteacher of Aldworth Science College in Basingstoke, said: "As heads, we recognise the importance of teaching for enterprise and industry."

She praised Basingstoke for its high concentration of dynamic and community-minded businesses and she described the potential workforce of tomorrow as being "talented and gifted".

Mrs Churcher said: "The majority of young people in Basingstoke are good people developing into good citizens."

She also reminded businesses that the generation now needing valuable work placement experience would be the workforce paying their pensions in the future.

Gazette Newspapers editor Mark Jones gave a personal view when he said: "I am a product of work experience, and it helped me to become a journalist."

He has carried his belief of the system into his role as an editor by welcoming work experience students at The Gazette, many of whom have joined the full-time staff.

From the employer's perspective, he said: "If I see someone aged 15 or 16 who has ability and enthusiasm, then I bear them in mind."

Mr Jones said there was unused talent in Basingstoke which needed to be tapped into to keep a young workforce in the town and help bridge the ongoing skills shortage.

He added: "It is our duty, as employers, to support the young people coming through and to give them the best opportunities."

The students' point of view was given by two 15-year-olds - Aldworth's deputy head boy and girl, Tom Phillips and Sarah McKnight - who asked employers for placements that were challenging and gave them the best chance to show their capabilities.

And three Basingstoke businesses that put something back into the future by sponsoring the event were Robin Escott, of the Liquorice Press, Glenn Robinson, of the design company David Charles, and Judy Woolford, of Corporate Catering.