Now, more than ever, businesses need to work with young people to bridge the gap between the classroom and the world of work.
Impact International has embarked on an initiative, launched by Business in the Community (BITC), to turn work experience into work inspiration, making it a ‘must have’ not a ‘have to do’. As a Times Top 100 Company and Great Place to Work, Impact aim to make the students’ first experience of the world of work more inspiring, interesting and insightful.
Impact, an SME, is committed to running up to six weeks of Work Inspiration during 2010, taking on 9 students in each cohort. On the 12th April 2010, the five-day pilot programme was launched to a group of yr13 students from The Lakes School Windermere. After careful collaboration with all stakeholders a meaningful programme was designed for each student giving them the opportunity to experience all aspects of the business. Each session during the programme is task-focussed with clear objectives and real consequences. The projects are designed to be of mutual benefit, providing learning to the students and real value to the business.
“I am delighted that this pilot phase of Impact’s Work Inspiration went so well for our students. The scheme moved them a stage further than our established work experience programmes in really challenging their career aspirations and broadening their views of the opportunities open to them. We look forward to the next chance our students have to share in this exciting partnership with Impact.”
Dr David Selby-Headmaster, The Lakes School, Windermere
“We had a good insight to how an international business works. We were given opportunities to meet the global leadership team and work under pressure.”
“We enjoyed the varied activities and programmes that we were able to take part in. This variety gave us opportunities to increase knowledge and experience.”
Students from The Lakes School, Windermere
“Too often the experience is an inconvenience to employers and dull or pointless for the student. We at Impact decided that we wanted to do something about this and have committed to a significant investment in time and energy working with local schools to change work experience into work inspiration.”
Andy Dickson, Head of Global Sales, Impact International
