I have been working hard since starting with Cogent Skills as Careers Manager at the end of July and am visiting a number of organisations to discuss their current and future support of the SIP Ambassador Network. The two SIP Ambassador training sessions planned in October for the British Plastics Federation members are now being marketed and members are currently registering.

We are now nearing the completion of a couple of projects and have fully completed another.

The Careers & Enterprise Company Enterprising Science

We reported in our Summer newsletter that we had completed delivery of the Greater Manchester, Kent and Medway, and Cheshire and Warrington. Apart from nearly 1200 students getting involved across the three regions, we interacted with 11 schools in Kent & Medway, 8 schools in Greater Manchester, and 4 schools in Cheshire & Warrington. Overall 44 SIP and STEM Ambassadors supported our activity in the schools through the series of Enterprise half days and three full day Challenge Days. Once again, a big thank you to everyone who helped deliver this successful project.

Evaluation of all events show that the majority of students felt that they were either totally or somewhat more interested in a career in science than before the sessions which was one of the main project aims. Similarly, they also felt that they had a greater understanding of why employers value employability skills.

Teacher feedback showed that they thought mixing school groupings in the Challenge Days was very useful and a good experience for their students of working as a team with people they did not previously know. Employers and Ambassadors commented on how impressed they were at the level of confidence of some of the individuals, particularly in the presentations, and the wealth of imagination, new ideas and concepts that are out there.

CEC Cheshire & Warrington Teacher Resources

The online teacher resources were completed earlier this year and are to be marketed to schools from September via three local authorities.

Calderdale College Online School Lesson Plans

This recently completed series of lesson plans for teachers in the North Yorkshire and East Riding will be ready for download in September via Calderdale Colleges’ online portal. Whilst it is aimed at all students from primary to leaving school, one of the lesson plans has focussed mainly on female case studies ranging from women on apprenticeships through to those in more senior management positions, and across varying routes into their chosen careers.

 We look forward to it being launched and used in North Yorkshire and the East Riding.