Durham EBP Newsletter
The first edition of Durham EBP’s newsletter, featuring the highlights of 2009/2010 is now available to view.
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Latest News: Uncategorized
The Durham Pedal Pushers
Photo: (from left to right): Penny Hudson, Sandra Brennen and Jessica Gibson just after completing their challenge.
Three Durham Education Business Partnership staff have just returned from China after completing the 10th women only challenge for the charity Women for Women.
Sandra Brennen, Jessica Gibson and Penny Hudson joined Professor Robert Winston for the challenge to fund groundbreaking medical research work at the Wolfston and Weston Research Centre for Family Health in London. They signed up for the challenge last year and after months of fundraising activities they managed to raise the £10,000 to take part.
They were among a group of 71 women who cycled for five days covering 404kms which involved cycling through growing local towns in developing areas of China, tackling hilly terrain and cycling alongside The Great Wall with spectacular views.
Jess said “This was an adventure of a lifetime; we had a truly amazing experience and met some wonderful women. We were lucky enough to experience Chinese culture through talking to the local people and visiting some of China’s wonders including The Great Wall and Forbidden City”.
Their thanks go out to all family, friends and work colleagues for supporting them with their fundraising and training as without the support of the people around them they would never have had the opportunity to take part in such an incredible challenge.
ThyssenKrupp Tallent welcome new Apprentices!
ThyssenKrupp Tallent have welcomed 4 new apprentices through their doors as a result of their very own version of the TV hit ’The Apprentice’. Working in partnership with staff and students from Woodham Community Technology College ‘The Apprentice’ aimed to provide an insight into the opportunities available to young people at the local manufacturing firm and to help students prepare for employment. It also presented the company with the chance to find out more about potential employees of the future.
‘The Apprentice’ proved to be a great recruitment tool. Original intentions were to offer one student the opportunity to join the ThyssenKrupp Tallent team however they were so impressed by the quality of the students involved that 4 students secured contracts.
The students took up their new posts in September and have recently completed an outward bound team building course with ThysennKrupp Tallent staff. David Pearson from the HR Dept said “ThysssenKrupp Tallent believe that Apprentices form the lifeblood of the organisation and this model has given us an alternative approach to recruiting young people, allowing us to get a much greater understanding of the individuals over a longer period of time. In addition to this the young people who took part also gain an appreciation of the skills required to be successful in the world of work. I have no doubts that these young people will prove to be an asset to the Company which was reinforced during the recent team building programme.”
Bradley Saunders, one of the students involved commented: “Earning this contract has given me a fantastic opportunity in life to be successful in the Engineering industry. It is something that I could only have dreamed of before.”
Bradley and the other successful students, Bradley Harrison. Lee Wright and Jack Charlton are certainly looking forward to a bright future with the company.
The project was so successful that ThyssenKrupp Tallent aim to repeat the process again this year in the hope of providing more opportunities young people.
‘The Apprentice’ was part of the Learning The Business Programme, coordinated by Durham Education Business Partnership. Anyone wishing to find out more information about the programme should contact Cheryl Stirk at cheryl.stirk@durham.gov.uk.
Student proves his worth at garage
- Kieran (right) with Doug at the garage
A student who started a work experience placement two years ago in an effort to engage him into working life, has been rewarded with a job offer!
Sixteen year old Kieran Robinson from Stanley School of Technology undertook a one week placement in April 2008 with D&R Tyres at Kip Hill, Stanley to gain skills and experience in preparation for his future career. The placement, organised by the Work Experience Team at Durham Education Business Partnership, went from strength to strength and two years on he’s all set to become a fully-fledged employee at the garage.
Kieran is delighted with the news. He said “I’m really pleased to have been offered the job as I’m learning all of the time. I never expected it but I was delighted when Doug said he’d take me on.”
Garage owner Doug Macdonald is similarly pleased with the outcome, saying ”Kieran has grown into the job over the past two years. I could tell he had vocational talent when he completed his week’s placement back in 2008. He’s a quick learner and we got on well from the start He then started an extended placement with me two days a week and I encouraged him to go to college to further the theory side of his education.”
D&R Tyres have offered work experience placements since 2004 and asked if he would recommend offering placements to school students, Doug added “Definately, the positives far outweigh any negatives and I’ve ended up with a good member of staff.”
Durham EBP and Stanley School of Technology have worked together for many years, building partnerships with local employers to develop new ways of working together to help prepare students for working life. This partnership has certainly paid off, Stanley School are delighted for Kieran and wish him all the best for the future. Engagement Programme Manager at the school Gary Jude said “A lot of work goes into supporting students out on work experience, outcomes like this make it very worthwhile. Keiran’s worked hard to make his placement a success, he deserves this opportunity.”
For more details about the Work Experience programme contact Jaqui Gardiner at Durham EBP on 01325 375963 or at jaqui.gardiner@durham.gov.uk.