What’s
your
view?
L-R: Robert Chapman,
production manager
with Joe Haddani
How would you go about
ensuring school leavers and
graduates are work ready?
An Ex-press
desire to grow
Formed in 1990, Ex-pressed Steel
Panels produce handmade panels
for discontinued cars from producers
such as Ford (Escort, Cortina), Austin,
Morris, Avenger and Sunbeam which
are bought by members of car clubs
and people involved in historic rallying
throughout the world.
Graham Cooper
Site Manager, Agfa Graphics
I am part of the team working to
open a University Technical College
(UTC) specialising in engineering and
manufacturing in Leeds which will teach
in a business-like environment and have
pupils exposed to real-world business
projects to work on.
We have over 60 local manufacturing
companies who have pledged their support
to the project. Trips to factories will form a
significant part of the curriculum and staff
from many businesses across the region will
go into the school to talk about their own
work histories and what it is like to work
within modern industry.
The young people will develop a deep
understanding of what work is and what
to expect when they either leave the UTC
to enter work or enter the world of work
after leaving the UTC and completing
higher education.
Starting in September 2016, this new school
will open and begin the process of ensuring
that the young people who attend are
indeed work ready.
28
Richard Flanagan
Director, Flanagan James
Property Consultants
Clearly school leavers and graduates
embarking on careers in business will
find themselves entering employment in
a variety of roles. However, I am firmly of
the opinion that as well as being equipped
with hard skills by schools and universities,
education leavers should also have the
necessary soft skills to aid their integration
into the workplace.
An understanding and experience
of accounting principles, how to
communicate effectively, problem solving,
commercial awareness, time management,
teamwork, and work ethic are all important
skills that are required and expected by
potential employers.
Educational establishments should
therefore engage directly with businesses
of all sizes, not just major local employers,
in order to collaborate and provide the
relevant knowledge and experience to
their students. %