Event brought world of work to life for Burnley students (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)
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Event brought world of work to life for Burnley students
5:12pm Friday 8th March 2013 in News
By Jonathon Dillon, Assistant news editor
Students take part in the event
HUNDREDS of students had a chance to find out more about their future careers at a major event in Burnley.
The Work Inspiration day attracted dozens of businesses who gave young people hands- on experience by staging demonstrations.
Thomas Whitham Sixth Form Centre hosted the town's second event following Safran Aircelle last year which attracted more than 1,000 students.
Zones were dedicated to sectors including advanced manufacturing and engineering, construction, creative and digital, retail and leisure, business and public sector.
Stuart Smith, headteacher at Thomas Whitham, said: “Work Inspiration is demonstrating that Burnley’s education sector is successfully working with business in the area to give our school students choice and opportunity to work for great career progression in the town.
“I was really impressed with the demonstrations that many business had organised to ensure that the school students who attended got a real hands on experience.
“There’s a lot of positivity in Burnley at the moment.
We have great schools, university campuses and some really excellent innovative businesses.
“With the rail link to Manchester and work now starting on Weaver’s Triangle, we’re very optimistic about Burnley’s future.”
Helen Gopsill, Aircelle’s HR director, said: “As Burnley’s largest private sector employer with 1,000 employees in Burnley, we take our commitment to our town and community very seriously.
“We support Work Inspiration because we want to show people that there are great opportunities for them at Aircelle and that it’s a great place to work."
Helen Heggie, is a director of STEMFirst, which aims to provide inspirational opportunities and forge a link between schools and employers. She said: “This true partnership event pulls together a wide range of companies to showcase careers that students may have never come across before, such as engineering or advanced manufacturing.”
