Engineering students Graduate from Career Academy
Fri, 18 June 2010
Six young learners graduated this month from the Tameside College Career Academy - a two year education programme which aims to raise the aspirations of 16 to 19 year olds and boost their employability skills by giving them real life experiences of the workplace. Tom Booth, Luke Howard, Will Figg, Liam Sutcliffe, James Young and Ben Verigotta graduated from the programme this year along with over 600 other young people, from schools and colleges across the UK.
Working with an impressive network of over 800 employers, the programme provides once-in-a-lifetime workplace experiences for teenagers, many from diverse urban backgrounds and areas of social need who would not normally have access to such opportunities. Completing the Career Academy programme greatly improves the students’ chances of progressing onto higher education or straight into a job, at a time of real concern about the employment and education prospects for young people in the UK.
The Tameside College students received their certificates from members of the Career Academy’s UK Advisory Board – Heather McGregor, Director of Taylor Bennett and Paul Wilson, Senior Advisor at Bain and Company. Two honorary alumni were recognised for their outstanding contribution to the programme: John Ansbro, Chief Executive of Leeds Financial Services Initiative (Retired) and former Chairman of the Leeds Local Advisory Board, and Gary Kibble, Career Academy Coordinator at Brigshaw High School, Leeds.
James McCreary, Career Academy UK’s recently appointed Chief Executive and Johnny Nelson, a retired world champion boxer and motivational speaker, offered words of encouragement and top tips on how young people can fulfil their ambitions and achieve future career success.
Head of Engineering, Peter Redfern said “The Career Academy programme offers the learners a unique opportunity to experience a true working environment in major companies. They learn vital new skills, which can improve their employment prospects and aid them in their future careers.”
James McCreary, Chief Executive of Career Academies UK, said: “At a time when youth unemployment is at a record high, graduation day celebrates the achievements of Career Academy students who have recognised the need to work hard and be armed with the skills and vital experience needed to help them get ahead and stay ahead! We wish the Career Academy class of 2010 at Tameside College all the best for the future.”
Career Academies UK – the first national organisation to receive the Award for Education Business Excellence was set up in 2002 to help raise the aspirations and career expectations of young people, by providing them with meaningful experiences of the world of work.
The curriculum is equivalent to three ‘A’ levels and includes one-to-one business mentoring and a six-week paid internship with a huge range of supporting businesses, including HM Revenue and Customs, Yorkshire Bank, Leeds Building Society, ASDA, Centrica, Leeds City Council, BP, Lloyds Banking Group, Darlington Building Society, Sheffield City Council, Yorkshire Building Society, Link Telecom, Aviva, Cadbury, KPMG and Allianz.