Working with employers
The team has developed expertise in supporting employers wishing to recruit more women into the science engineering and technology sectors. Our strength is in offering tailored support to organisations who have varying levels of experience of promoting gender equality. Employer organisations are often aware of the business benefits of a diverse workforce and wish to work with the team to find out how they can recruit and retain more girls and women.
Work experience
Work experience placements can be a contributing factor when young people make their career choices and providing a positive experience of SET is one way to encourage new entrants into these careers. The team has a reputation for developing quality programmes of work experience and is able to support other organisations wishing to use work placements to encourage girls into careers related to science, technology, engineering and maths.
The Wider Horizons work placement programme combines a range of activities aimed at young people (for use by teachers, Connexions staff and others) as well as information for employers and others involved in work experience placements. The highly successful programme developed by the team has won considerable recognition for its high standards. In November 2007 the programme was recognised by the Institute of Career Guidance at its annual conference, where a National Career Award was presented to the team in the category 'Working with Young People in Learning 14-19'.
Connaught PLC approached the WiSET team for support in developing a more inclusive work placement programme that would attract applications from 50:50 females and males and individuals from black and minority ethnic communities.
We offered consultancy and assisted in the development of a bespoke programme. As a result of our support, Connaught's trained 'work experience ambassadors' now organise and supervise excellent work experience placements.
This benefits young people and the Connaught staff members by ensuring high quality placements supervised by trained and committed employees.
The development team received a Constructing Excellence Award at the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Ceremony in 2008.
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