A CONFERENCE looking at ways of easing the transition from the classroom to the workplace has been held in the region.

More than 200 delegates from businesses, schools and colleges in the North-East gathered for the Developing Work Readiness event, at the Langdale Centre, in Wallsend.

Organised by the North Tyneside Education Business Partnership, Tyne and Wear Education Business Links Organisation (Tweblo) and Government Office North-East, its main speakers included Malcolm Bowes, assistant director of the Regional Assembly.

Val Milnes, Tweblo manager, said: "Businesses always stress to us that they want school leavers who are ready to make an immediate impact in the workplace.

"Whilst academic studies are critical to the development of young people, this must be supported by an understanding of the way people and businesses operate, which can only be achieved through real experiences of the workplace."

Based at Sunderland's Business Innovation Centre, Tweblo works with more than 480 schools, 5,000 businesses, and training organisations to provide work-related learning for pupils between five and 19