Supporting Blue Coat School’s Work Inspiration Day – 17 July 2023
A team from Avove were thrilled to support Blue Coat Church of England School & Music College in Coventry at its first Work Inspiration event. The day consisted of work-related interactive sessions where pupils took part in activities organised by a range of employers. These sessions introduced the students to future careers and the world of work, and also contributed towards their work experience.
Blue Coat School trialled a new model for their students work experience by bringing employers into the school and running work-related sessions.
In order for this to count as an experience of a workplace, students took part in an activity that is relevant to the job, and received feedback.
Avove’s Talent and Attraction Partner, Elizabeth McDonald, provided pupils with an overview of Avove and the variety of roles that are available in the utilities sector, including the various career pathways they can take.
Avove’s Principal Environmentalist, Isy Keily-Atkin, and Senior Ecologist, Lizzy Davies, showcased the innovative methods we use to protect wildlife and nature in the areas where we work and the importance of improving our impact on the environment.
It is so wonderful that we are able to offer this Work Inspiration Day opportunity to all of our year 10 students. Since the pandemic, we have faced difficulties in securing work experience for all of our year 10 students. We are one of the largest secondary schools in Coventry and with businesses being more hybrid working, and many workplaces facing resource cuts, it has proved nearly impossible to secure a typical work experience week for everyone.
To ensure all of our students are given the same advantage, we wanted to try something new. The support from businesses who are still keen to support our young people has provided us with this fantastic day full of enrichment and opportunities for our students to get curious about their futures, broaden their minds and raise their aspirations in a safe, meaningful and accessible way.
The Work Inspiration Day was a great success. We would like to thank, Liz, Isy, Lizzy and Avove for taking time out to inspire our pupils by showcasing examples of the vast array of opportunities that await them.
The pupils learnt about the environment and were given an understanding of how being educated in a subject can equip them with the knowledge and skills required in their future careers.”
Mrs Michelle Cheshire, Blue Coat Church of England School & Music College’s, Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance Lead