Business in Woodley - Work Experience Sought for Local Young Apprentices

Businesses in Woodley are being given the opportunity to help high calibre 14-16 year olds from Waingels Copse and Ryeish Green schools get a taste of ‘real work’ by offering them work experience placements.

The youngsters are on the Young Apprenticeship programme (YA) in business and administration at Bracknell and Wokingham College, a vocational course that combines two days a week at the College with three days a week studying core GCSE subjects at their schools. The students are all volunteers with predicted A-C GCSE grades and have undergone a rigorous selection process, including interview and psychometric testing, to be on the programme.

“Our Young Apprenticeship programme students have to complete 10 weeks’ work experience over the two years and we’re looking to have the first of these in place before Christmas,” explained YA Co-ordinator David Putt. “They’re all potentially graduate calibre and this work experience will be of real value in making them well educated and well rounded individuals.”

As well as introducing young people to the world of work and developing skills that will elevate their future employability, David also stressed the potential benefits to employers of helping the programme.

“The business will get an additional and very willing pair of hands in the administration of the office and there will be opportunities to develop existing staff in a mentoring or supervisory capacity,” he added. “Participation can support accreditation to awards such as Investors in People too, while boosting the business’s involvement with its surrounding community.”

If your company can help these students’ development by offering a placement, then Bracknell and Wokingham College would like to hear from you.

No cost or long-term commitment is involved and David, the programme’s dedicated co-ordinator at the College, is available to give full support throughout.

david.putt@bracknell.ac.uk
www.cfa.uk.com/ya

Photograph shows students from Ryeish Green School discussing project options at Bracknell and Wokingham College.