National Careers Week 2023 around the Borough
During this year's National Careers Week (6 -10 March) and as our Employment and Skills Manager and an Ambassador for National Careers Week, Lea Hampton has been out and about in secondary schools and colleges across the Borough delivering presentations on the construction sector.
Lea has been joined by other members of EBC staff to educate local young people about the variety of jobs that support a development like One Horton Heath, their learning pathways and the skills and qualities required to do their jobs and what their jobs may look like in the future. Melissa Hare (Communications / Journalism), Clarissa Bignaut (Project Management), Simon Mason (Property Sales), Rory Watson-Newman (Land / Estates Management) along with external professionals; Michelle Good from Deacon Design, Gary Beamish from Ridge over the last month have given their time to educate our local students.
By visiting our potential workforce of the future with professionals working in construction and development, Lea can help them see the opportunities that are open to them locally, and help raise their aspirations of what job roles they could do. There has been some great engagement from students and lots of interest in the work experience, T level and apprenticeships opportunities that are opening up as a direct result of the One Horton Heath development.
There have been lots of discussions this week championing construction as a sector to explore, particularly for women. It’s refreshing and liberating that so many females are now really seeing that the construction sector is open to them and one to further explore. I am so keen to see a more diverse community working on the One Horton Heath project.
“As a local authority precious about our green spaces, having the opportunity to visit students in schools to share knowledge and information about how we are protecting our land and encouraging them to take a part in the preservation of it is exciting. We’ve had lots of interest in volunteering at our parks to learn about land management and conservation.” Rory Watson-Newman
Claire Thwaites from Toynbee said: "This has been a great experience for our pupils hearing first hand what is on offer locally in construction and also how to promote themselves when it comes to looking for a job. Lea was engaging and informative , pitching each session to the needs of the pupils . We look forward to working with her again in the future .