On Wednesday 6th November our Post 16 students hosted an innovative employer event supported by Paul Hartley our Enterprise adviser. The idea was to invite employers to meet our students and engage in an activity that would enable the employers to see the strengths of our students as potential employees as opposed to employers visiting and just talking about their place of work.
The event was posted on Eventbrite with the following invitation:
We are inviting you as a local employer to meet the next generation of future employees you may have overlooked. The lunch time network session will give you the opportunity to meet these motivated and committed students who will be able to help your businesses achieve the success you aspire to. These students have very particular skills and your business could provide the right environment for them to thrive in the future.
Pendle Community College is rated ‘Outstanding’ in their last Ofsted report and the school and college creates an amazing nurturing environment for young people with a range of needs and abilities to thrive. This is an opportunity to learn more about the school and college but also meet the students and see how we can narrow the gap for their future employment aspirations.
Lunch will be provided, in fact you will be helping to create some tasty pizzas and you have the chance to ask questions and hear all about the students, the school and college.
Seven employers attended the event and the feedback was tremendous from employers, students and the supporting staff:
- PCC students are more employable than some of their mainstream peers because “they are so determined
- Welcoming, friendly, kind friendly faces, helpful, kind and considerate
- Some people are miserable but you all have made us feel welcome
- Fantastic morning – such confident young people, wouldn’t know you had any disabilities – just normal kids
- A really good morning, we go into lots of schools, some students don’t talk to us, but you have made us feel so welcome
Jenny Bayliss, Deputy Head commented: “I am really proud of our fantastic post 16 students they are so inspiring and this is certainly something we intend to repeat next term”