Dormston Students take the lead in their employability learning

Year 11 pupils from Dormston School in Sedgley recently celebrated their first Employability Success Day with students getting the opportunity to showcase their achievements having completed their first EmployabilityUK mentoring programme.

The programme prepares students for the world of work, raises aspirations and brings to life career opportunities across the West Midlands for young people aged 11-19. Supported by mentors from a range of businesses including UTC Aerospace, Coventry Building Society and the former CEO of Virgin Trains, Tony Collins, the 8 week programme sees students hearing from a range of speakers including lawyers from Sedgley-based Thursfields Solicitors and Dean Harris from the International Search and Rescue team within West Midlands Fire Service.

Students delivered a 5-minute presentation on a business or career topic of their choice to an audience of mentors and school staff. They then answered questions on their presentation and received a certificate from Head Teacher Ben Stitchman and EmployabilityUK Chief Executive, Diane Vernon.

The day was very positively received with student Marco Simmonds, an aspiring entrepreneur commenting that the programme had given him the opportunity to increase his skills and helped him to develop confidence in himself. Fellow student Harun Mohammed also commented that the programme has helped him to gain self-awareness and understand his skills and capabilities.

EmployabilityUK is very proud of the successful partnership with Dormston School and the benefits it has brought to the Year 11 students on the programme. Chief Executive of EmployabilityUK Diane Vernon commented

“The programme has given students from different backgrounds the opportunity to gain exposure into businesses and obtain real life insights into job types and different career pathways. The students demonstrated their commitment, not only by completing all of the tasks set for them, but by doing the whole programme in their own time after school”.

This was also echoed by Dormston School Head Teacher Ben Stitchman who said,

“I have been really impressed with the positive impact the programme has had on our students. They have fully engaged with the mentors and grown in confidence. This was reflected in their presentations – I was very proud of all of them”.