Heston Community School Business Career Academy was launched on Wednesday 5^th March to a group of local businesses in the School’s Learning Resource Centre. The School is working with Career Academies UK who work with over 1,400 organisations throughout the UK whose help and support raises students’ aspirations and prepares them for a career in Business related subjects as well as developing their employability skills.

Headteacher Phil Ward welcomed local businesses to the launch and outlined why the School was keen to be involved in the scheme that sees students benefit from mentoring, workplace visits, guru lectures and a six week paid internship. He said: “We want to provide the best opportunities for our students and the Career Academy programme is a great way for them to get real business experience and it has a proven record of success. We are also very keen to work with our local businesses and develop mutually beneficial partnerships.”

Mr Ward then introduced three speakers who outlined how the programme works and the benefits that exist for all parties. Sumeet Randhawa, Regional Manager for Career Academies UK, explained how students are matched with businesses and how Local Advisory Boards, made up of local business representatives, manage this innovative programme.

Anona Amis of IBM sits on Lambeth College’s Local Advisory Board and talked of the “magical transformation” she sees as students change from being timid children to confident young adults during the course of the programme and particularly during their paid internships.

Richard Roberts, Managing Director of GE Capital, hosted a question and answer session which covered the benefits to business – employee’s involvement develops their coaching, communication and interpersonal skills, networking opportunities and being able to talent spot future employees. He concluded by saying “The more students we see the more we want to do.”

A number of local businesses agreed to be involved on the night and others are very welcome – contact Mrs Nidhi Chhibba, Business Studies Assistant Curriculum Leader, for more details nchhibba@hestoncs.hounslow.sch.uk

These businesses are joining forces with an impressive group of employers and stakeholders already involved in the programme including the following: