Partnership manager Diane Christon says the partnership puts more than 8,000 pupils a year on two-weekly work experience placements with 5,000 firms. It has also developed quality standards for work experience and all its schools have achieved or are working towards accreditation.

It also produces 10,000 free work-experience record books a year and publishes profiles of the kind of skills such placements can develop.

And it finds placements for 600 teachers a year. Several have been placed with the Settle-Carlisle railway, where they have developed curriculum materials.

Another programme, Trading Places, puts business people in schools. The partnership supports the national young enterprise programme, and runs mentoring programmes in York and Filey.

The partnership works closely with the Engineering Council, the Science, Engineering and Technology Network and the Association of Schools, Science, Engineering and Technology to promote science, engineering, maths and technology.

In Sowerby it runs a project called Measuring Up To Maths, in which companies help schools use maths in practical ways.

The partnership is working with eight secondary schools, offering extended work experience to students deemed at risk of failing to transfer successfully into further education or training.