Home-Grown blues star Davy Knowles will address an audience of politicians,
educationalists and business and charity chiefs about how his talent was nurtured from an early age.
Davy, who hails from Port St Mary and went to Castle Rushen High School, has found fame as one of the world’s most highly acclaimed young blues artists.
Based in Chicago, he has agreed to fly home to be the keynote speaker at the second Employability conference, which takes place in the Island on Wednesday 2 April 2014.
His appearance will be a highlight of Island of Culture 2014 and is being supported by the Isle of Man Arts Council. The conference will be called ‘Reach Higher’, which was the title of Davy’s anthem, commissioned by the Arts Council, for the 2011 Commonwealth Games.
Davy, 26, has already accepted the Arts Council’s invitation to be a cultural ambassador for the year-long celebration of the Island’s talent and creativity.
The conference, at the Mount Murray Hotel and Country Club, will build on the success of the first gathering, held in October 2012, which saw educationalists, industry and charity executives and political members and officials of the Isle of Man Government discuss ways to assist young people into employment and bridge the gap between school and the workplace.
The event was organised by the Employability Working Group, comprising representatives of the Departments of Education and Children and Economic Development and business and voluntary organisations.
From the gathering, the working group identified three priority projects: communicating job-related information digitally; involving employers more directly in careers education and enhancing work experience opportunities. Sub-committees are now developing these areas and will update the April 2014 conference as well as seek fresh input and ideas.
Annette Baker, Deputy Headteacher of Ballakermeen High School and chairman of the Employability Working Group, said:
‘Through his drive, determination and sheer talent, Davy has succeeded at the top of his profession and has put the Isle of Man on the map.
‘It’s fantastic that he has agreed to come home to address our conference about what it meant to him to be encouraged as he fulfilled his dream to become a professional musician and to talk to us about how we can inspire the next generation to, in his words, reach higher.
‘Young people are growing up in a different climate now, employment-wise, and we need to do all we can to assist them to make the most of the opportunities that are out there as well as to aid employers to find students with the skills and attributes they need.’
Booking for the 160 places at the conference will begin in January, with priority given those who attended the last conference. Remaining places will then be advertised. Other top speakers are lined up.
For more information about the Employability Working Group or the conference, contact Mrs Baker on 648700 or via email at a.baker@bhs.sch.im
