Last Friday, Nicola delivered a series of interactive workshops at the Regional Careers Conference, bringing together career leaders, teachers and businesses to explore how stronger partnerships can benefit young people.
Working alongside David Coe, from the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, Nicola led discussions focused on the barriers schools and colleges often face when engaging with local businesses. The sessions encouraged open and honest conversations, giving educators the opportunity to share the challenges they experience when trying to build meaningful employer relationships.
One of the key messages from the workshops was that businesses of all sizes can make a valuable contribution. Whether it’s a company with hundreds of employees, a small business, a freelancer or a two-person team, dedicating just a few hours every few months can have a lasting impact. Opportunities such as mock interviews, careers talks, workplace visits or becoming an Enterprise Adviser all help inspire and prepare the next generation.
The workshops also explored practical ways for schools and colleges to engage businesses more effectively, including being clear about the support they need and ensuring volunteers feel valued and well supported throughout their involvement.
Nicola said: “Listening to educators speak so openly about the challenges they face was incredibly insightful. It reinforced just how important it is for businesses and education providers to work together, and how even small contributions of time can make a real difference to young people’s futures.”
Riverside Marketing Solutions would also like to thank Lee Axon from Digifin Media for generously volunteering his time to photograph the workshops and capture the day’s discussions.
