Supporting local primary schools

What we did

We worked with our local business education partner Countec to identify opportunities for colleagues to share their skills, experience and knowledge through volunteering activities at local schools.

Countec already had strong relationships with schools across the Milton Keynes area and valuable experience in delivering programmes which engaged our colleagues as well as being of real benefit to the schools and students.

Countec communicated the details of the programmes that were being run - along with details of what was expected of our colleagues – which was particularly important as this was a new experience for many of them.  Over 100 colleagues have participated in sessions at several schools ranging from enterprise challenges to bite-size career talks and mock interviews.

Why we did it

The ‘Workout’ sessions help young people learn the interpersonal skills they will need to compete in the tough job market. It also helps bridge the gap between the world of work and school and they are able to gain an insight into the vast range of career opportunities which are available to them.

How we did it

We advised Countec on the best way to promote the volunteering opportunities to our colleagues - both in terms of content and timing - so that colleagues could build this into their working routine.

We then used our internal communication channels to highlight the variety of opportunities available so that there was something for everyone. Countec also provided a helpline for anyone who was unsure if they had the skills needed to get involved or required further information before committing to supporting the activities.