Future Careers Fund powers workshop at Avon Valley School

"This activity demonstrates the difference a 'meaningful' conversation with an employer can really have and we hope to build on such highly effective activity in the future."

Students at Avon Valley School, Rugby, benefited from a bespoke Careers and Employability workshop delivered with support from Warwickshire County Council’s 2022 Future Careers Fund.

Avon Valley was one of 25 schools across the county which took up a Future Careers grant from the council's Warwickshire Skills Hub. 

Secondary schools have faced significant challenges caused by the pandemic and lockdowns in particular, in terms of offering students work experience and having face to face interaction which had to be postponed. 

However, supported by the £3,000 Future Careers Fund grant, Avon Valley worked with Career Seekers Direct to develop the workshop day which reintroduced a range of activities into the school to help the students. The activities designed by career leaders were encouraged to demonstrate themes of future careers and reflect the skills needs of Warwickshire’s employers across a blend of industries. 

Year 9 students enjoyed the many strands to the day, including making vegan honey, Minecraft career talks and hearing different people’s careers journeys. Talks were given by members of Warwickshire College Group's IT department, The University of Warwick's IT department, a games design company and a music technology company. The talks addressed which skills are valued and needed in the organisations and the range of career paths available to young people.  

In the skills session, the students developed their knowledge of employability and meta skills. They then took part as small teams in tasks addressing some real business issues where they put these skills into practice. “It was good to work with my friends and share our thoughts on what jobs we would like to do and learn more about which qualifications we would need for particular jobs,” commented one student. 

Lisa Owen, Careers Lead at Avon Valley School said: "Students were very positive about the event and enjoyed their learning. The Future Careers Fund was invaluable in allowing us to work with Careers Seekers Direct and give our students this opportunity to work with professionals in the digital sector." 

Eva Harrison, CEO and Founder of Careers Seekers Direct, said: “The enthusiasm and engagement from the students were brilliant throughout the day. Sessions like these are invaluable to the students as they make their educational and career choices.” 

The aim of the Future Career Fund was to support education settings to build highly engaging, innovative, and aspirational activity.

WCC Careers and Employability manager Chloe Millage said: “It’s always great to see our local employer network supporting careers activity and businesses helping to develop and influence their future workforce is always time well spent.

“We received such positive feedback from students who said the opportunity to meet employers increased their awareness of the world of work. Being able to ask questions around the different routes into careers and earning potential really did raise aspirations. This activity demonstrates the difference a 'meaningful' conversation with an employer can really have and we hope to build on such highly effective activity in the future."  

• If you are a business who would like to offer a careers talk, a tour of your workspace or support mock interviews then please do get in touch with the Warwickshire Skills Hub on skillshub@warwickshire.gov.uk