Work experience to get big profile with Big Conversation
AROUND 50 chief executives and senior directors from some of Yorkshire and the Humber’s top companies are to meet 50 young people to find out what they want to get out of work experience.
Figures including Stefan Barden, chief executive of Northern Foods, and Nicholas Hildyard, joint managing director of workwear supplier Arco, will take part in the ‘Big Conversation’ next Friday (Feb 12).
The event, which is being held at Leeds Metropolitan University, is being organised by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) in collaboration with Business in the Community (BiTC).
Yorkshire is rolling out the UK’s first regional Big Conversation event with the support of Yorkshire Forward, Young People’s Enterprise Forum (YPEF) and regional education and business partnerships.
Suzy Alderson, executive director of YPEF, said: “All businesses have a role to play in bridging the gap between the classroom and the world of work but by offering a better quality work experience, businesses have as much to gain as the young people they host.”
The Big Conversation forms part of a broader “work inspiration” campaign spearheaded by BiTC in partnership with the education foundation Edge and the Talent and Enterprise Taskforce.
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, is speaking at the event.
Liz Needleman, BiTC’s regional director, said: “Businesses understand the need to inspire our young people, but many have not understood the best way to do that.
“This campaign is about providing businesses with easy, simple and tested ideas to enable them to provide excellent work experience placements.”
The work of the Big Conversation is already being felt in Yorkshire.
Liam Pickersgill, 16, and Natalie Wilson, 17, both students at Brigshaw High School and Language College in Kippax, Leeds, have been taking part in Big Conversation with Yorkshire Bank in Leeds.
The students spent two and a half days at the bank’s head office in Leeds with IFS services, learning about internal banking procedures and documentation as well as bank security.
The remainder of the week was spent at a retail branch in Seacroft, observing customer interviews and bank cashiers. The students also spent time with senior managers at the bank, discussing career paths and opportunities within the banking sector.
Jacqui Atkinson, community affairs manager at Yorkshire Bank said: “We’ve had a really positive response from the students following their week with the bank. They really got a taste of the workings of the bank and what goes on behind the scenes and made a great impression with employees they worked with. I wish them both every success in their future careers.”
Both students will attend the event on February 12.
