Career Academy students follow a rigorous two-year enrichment programme alongside a curriculum equivalent to at least three A levels, enabling students to progress to higher education or the world of work. The programme aims to tackle social mobility and raise the aspirations of 16 to 19-year-olds, boosting their employability skills by giving them real life experiences of the workplace, something which is particularly relevant in the current climate. In total, over 750 young people, drawn from 81 schools and colleges across the UK, will have graduated from the programme this year in three ceremonies held in London and Leeds.
The young graduates were congratulated by Director General of the Institute of Directors, Miles Templeman, who offered timely words of encouragement, addressing the pivotal role the graduates held in being able to significantly raise the UK’s skills level – one of the biggest issues facing UK business today. He noted how the internships undertaken by the students distinguished their experiences from any other, and urged them to progress forward into their careers with confidence.
The students received their certificates from Sir Win Bischoff, Chairman of Lloyds Banking Group and a Trustee of Career Academies UK, Desna McAll, Vice Principal of Cirencester College and Alison Brittain, Executive Director of Santander and a member of Career Academies UK National Advisory Board.
Teacher and Career Academy Coordinator, Laura, from The Charter School in Southwark commented: “The programme is really valuable and post internship the students are far more focused and aware of the challenges ahead of them. They’ve learnt skills such as prioritising work loads and meeting deadlines, and it is fantastic for their personal statements as it is concrete work experience.”
Career Academies UK – the first national organisation to receive the Award for Education Business Excellence – was set up in 2002 to help raise the aspirations and career expectations of young people, by providing them with meaningful experiences of the world of work.
The programme includes one-to-one business mentoring and a six-week paid internship with a huge range of supporting businesses, including Citi, BP, Morgan Stanley, Lloyds Banking Group, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Santander, Bank of New York Mellon, McGraw-Hill, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Ofcom, Mitie and Moodys.
