Employers help students get ready for work
Students at Beechcliffe School in Keighley participated in a ‘Ready for Work’ day to learn about different job roles and develop their employability skills working alongside employers.
Companies Balfour Beatty, Blossoms and Co, Manorlands Hospice and School of Rock & Media ran workshops for the students, giving them a taste of what is involved in a range of job sectors and roles from construction, music and floristry to marketing and fundraising.
Organised by the Xperience team, the event was part of the Equalex Pilot Programme funded by the Careers & Enterprise Company.
Councillor Imran Khan, Bradford Council’s Executive member for Economy, Employment and Skills, said: “I want to thank these businesses for giving their time to support our young people to explore different career options and help them make informed choices about their future.
“Good careers education is vital to help young people make the best choices for their future. They are the workforce of tomorrow and it is important we invest in them to ensure they have fulfilling lives and that the district’s economy continues to flourish.”
Rob Slater, deputy headteacher at Beechcliffe School, said: “Our pupils really enjoyed the hands-on activities that were provided by the employers and were able to ask lots of questions about their businesses and some of the jobs and careers people have in those sectors. A huge thank you to everyone involved - we had an incredible day and pupils at our school are much more informed about careers now.”
Julie Heaton, Social Impact Advisor from Balfour Beatty said: “It was a fantastic opportunity for the young people to explore different aspects of jobs and careers. Thank you to the school and students for making us feel so welcome, and we are so pleased that Balfour Beatty could make a positive impact on the day and hope that all the student we met benefitted from our involvement."
Andy Longden, Volunteer Co-ordinator at Manorlands Hospice, said: “It was a great opportunity to talk to students about Manorlands Hospice and the work we do. Thank you to all staff and pupils for this opportunity. The students designed some great fundraising posters and practiced their creativity skills!”
The Equalex Pilot aims to support a high quality and inclusive career readiness and progressive journey for young people. SkillsHouse is supporting four schools across the district as part of the pilot.