Beckmead Trust Careers Programme - Work Related Learning, Employer Encounters and Enrichment Events

Work Experience & Employer Encounters

Employer encounters and workplace experience are crucial aspects of the Beckmead Trust’s careers programme. Choosing the right future pathway and entering into the world of work can be very daunting and overwhelming for many of our students.

For this reason, we strive to provide our students with as much real-life opportunities and experiences as possible, so that they can learn first hand about the labour market and the working world.

Palace for Life "Game On" Social Mobility Programme

"Game On" is a 6 week employability programme that comprises of work-related workshops 2 days a week. Along with these workshops, students receive individual support for further personalised development.

during this time, students meet different employers, and learn about;

Personal Branding
Effective Decision Making
Positive Pathways
Effective CV Writing
Emotional Intelligence
Finance and Budgeting
Technology and Digital Skills
Social Action and Community Values

A few of our students who are avid football fans, had the privilege to meet with Crystal Palace's under 21 / Reserve squad .

National Apprenticeship Show at Sandown Racecourse

This year we were allowed to physically attend the National Apprenticeship Show and Higher Education Expo at Sandown Racecourse.

These shows bring students together with employers and training providers that offer all levels of Apprenticeships from intermediate, all the way through to Higher and Degree Apprenticeships.

Student's engaged with employers and training providers to learn about different career pathways. One of our students signed up with Kwik Fit on the day, and secured an apprenticeship to start in September !!

The British Army Career Outreach Event

The recruiting team from the British Army delivered fantastic career workshops and team building activities to our year 10, 11, 12 & 13 students.

A military police officer gave a talk on his career journey into the army and showed student's videos about the different training opportunities available to them.

Students then took part in activities led by Non Commissioning officers from the Scots guard Infantry and Rifleman regiments

Student's listened intently to the varied career journeys of the different soldiers.

The Fairfield Hall Tour

Students from BPA and CBU were given a great opportunity to go behind the scenes of Fairfield hall and interview the casting director and production manager.

This was a fantastic time for students to learn all about the many roles involved in performing arts.

Students were amazed to find out that the production manager started his career volunteering for Fairfield Hall.s 12 years ago.

University Visits

Raising students' aspirations is at the heart of our Careers programme. This year students visited Kingston and Surrey Universities.

Students were given guided tours around campus - visiting lecture rooms, living accommodation (dorms) and sporting facilities.

Students were amazed at how normal university life was, and also how achievable it could be for them to attend one day.

Savvy Theatre Company Employability EventWe are so grateful to our friends / partners at Savvy Theatre company for delivering some fantastic employability workshops to different year groups of students across the Beckmead sites.The workshops were centred around interview skills, and confidence building.Trestle masks were used as props, and they were extremely playful yet very powerful in highlighting to the students the power of displaying the correct body language.

Chelsea Crest Award Event Our students took part in the Bronze Crest Award. The programme was facilitated by Ollie from the Chelsea Football Club Foundation. Student's were given real-life problems to solve. The sessions are designed to encourage teamwork, entrepreneurial skills, develop autonomy and provide students with an experience of what it feels like being part of a real-life project. The theme of the project centered around creating more awareness of a environmentally friendly school. All students participated extremely well and received a recognised Crest Award Certificate from the British Science Association and Chelsea Football Club.
Dallaglio Rugby Works Intervention Programme

Dallaglio Rugby Works have been delivering some fantastic employability intervention workshops for our KS5 students.

These sessions are focused on CV writing, presentation skills, interview techniques, and more. They also connect our students with external employers and further training organisations.

Reaching Higher Assembly

The Reaching Higher organisation delivered a fantastic KS4 assembly that included activities designed to help students unlock their potential.

The team at RH also encouraged students to explore their passions and make a difference in their community.

Inclusive Employer Brunch

We recently hosted a Local Employer Brunch aimed at highlighting the numerous benefits of business owners and employers becoming more inclusive of students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The event was a success in showcasing the talents and skills of our amazing young people, demonstrating how integrating them into the workforce can enhance an organisation’s innovation, productivity, and overall culture.

Keynote addresses from prominent councillors and advocates emphasised the positive impact of inclusive employment practices.

We also had the opportunity to hear directly from our current Work Experience students, who shared how these opportunities have boosted their confidence, improved their mental health, and developed essential soft skills.

Overall, the event was both inspiring and impactful, offering valuable networking opportunities for all those who are committed to disability inclusion.

Further Training Opportunities for our Year 11+ Students

The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) is a leading skills qualification within the UK construction industry. Most contractors and major builders require anyone working on building sites to hold a valid CSCS card.

Therefore, we are thrilled to announce that the Beckmead Trust can now offer this qualification to students who currently study construction as part of their vocational studies.

Gaining a CSCS card qualification will provide them with greater opportunities to secure paid employment once they leave Beckmead.

We are super proud of one of our Year 12 construction students who has just passed his Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Green Card. He’s now legally allowed to work on building sites in the UK.

We would like to say a big massive thank you to all our friends and partners at the Crystal Palace Community Trust, Mulalley Construction, Pret A Manger, Talentino, Amazing Apprenticeships, Chelsea FC, Runway Training, Prevista Ltd, the National Literacy Trust, Care Trade ltd, City Electrical Factors, Subway, the DWP and all the rest of our career partners for continuing to support us in raising our students aspirations.

Please let us know if you, or someone you know, is interested in offering our students a placement for Work Experience?

Some of the benefits that providing work experience can bring to both you and our students...

Contribute to enhancing students confidence and self-esteem.
Utilise an extra pair of hands, from a student who is keen and capable to participate in daily tasks within your organisation.
Strengthen the links between education and business.
Raise the profile of your company/organisation within the local community.

Fulfilling corporate social responsibility by making a concerted effort to operate in ways that enhances society and the lives of the people in your local area.
Enhance the brand image of your company.
Raise morale in your workplace.
Help students to see the commercial application of the skills they have acquired at Beckmead.
Enable students to gain a positive insight into the world of work.

For more information about becoming a Work Experience Partner please email me at ghiggins7@beckmeadtrust.org

Page updated

Report abuse