Our Partners in Business make a valuable contribution to our career development and work related learning programme.  However, we are always aware and appreciative of time and pressure on companies in releasing volunteers to develop and support activities.  To maximise the effort and experience, the Partnership Career Manager will work with the company representative to identify mutual benefits and needs to ensure effective delivery of the activity.  

Learning about companies in our local economy will also help to keep our careers advisers and teachers up to date with labour market skills and sector needs in order to inform students and ensure they have access to opportunities.

Employees can volunteer to work with young people on an activity or by giving a presentation about what they do.  This can bring a sense of reward, job-satisfaction and indeed, help towards continuous personal development.  It is also a great way to tap into our 'talent-pool' at the Academy to inspire and raise awareness about your industry, business sector and about recruitment opportunities, including apprenticeships, scholarships, graduate schemes and internships.

Some of our Partners in Business are really leading the way in helping to develop our workforce for tomorrow..........so what difference could you make?

To find out how you could get involved in Partners In Business go to our Partners in Business page

It all started after Mears agreed to attend the Inspire Careers Conference back 2010.  Not knowing exactly what to expect, Mears jumped head-first into the conference and organised an exhibit stand and bricklaying workshop.  The response from the students and staff was amazing.  We then decided to ask Mears whether they would mind coming into the Academy to help launch a new Construction programme with a group of year 9s.  They again jumped at the chance and agreed to provide 2 bricklayers, Mo and Kev to help teach the students the basics 1 day a week for 12 weeks.  2 years on, and several walls later, Mo and Kev are still with us, a long with a painter and decorator!  Now approaching our 3rd year in partnership with Mears, we hope that they will see the fruits of their labour as students begin their final GCSE year and start to look at an apprenticeship pathway.  These students have not only learnt a craft that will put them in good stead for the future, but they have learnt some essential social skills and how to work together.

Mo and Kev, have also gained a lot from this experience and have built a very strong bond with these students.  We have hosted special presentation evenings and awards (again sponsored by Mears) to recognise the achievements of both students and trainers.  Recently, Mo and Kev were nominated for the work they had achieved at the Academy and came first-runners up in the Mears Group Annual Awards Ceremony which they richly deserved.  The Academy would like to thank Mears for their extraordinary and outstanding contribution they have made to this programme and for enriching the learning experience for these young people.  We look forward to the continuing success of this programme in association with the Mears Group. 

Bauer Media has worked with the Academy over the years on a number of initiatives. This partnership really does showcase how businesses can make a difference and on so many levels!  All it is needs is a little bit of creativity and some open-minded people! 

Industry showcase - A real wow-factor event that showcased Bauer Media as a company and the industry it serves.  To an audience of over 150 students Bauer provided a eye-catching, thought-provoking and interactive seminar which really did give students a real insight to their business and work.  Fabulous career research - not mention some useful tips and material for student's media and technology course work!

Inspire Careers Conference - media workshop and exhibit.  Students got the chance to put their creativity and enterprise skills to the test during a workshop challenge by Bauer's marketing team.  Whilst other students still got the chance to meet and talk with Bauer's Communication team to find out more about the different pathways in this sector.

Lesson take-over -  The team from The Digital Photography, came in to work with Year 11 GCSE Media students to help kick-start their project.  Students were given a hands-on masterclass how to set-out a magazine page and to take quality photos.

Every year in October the Academy host our premiere event of the year the INSPIRE CAREERS CONFERENCE.  This event is a key component to the Year 11 student's career programme and kick-starts this critical year in helping students to focus and understand the importance of researching their pathway options.  Without our Partners in Business this could not be possible.  Every year we are always overwhelmed by the generosity and commitment from our partners.  Why not get involved?  http://www.thomasdeaconacademy.com/news/?pid=3&nid=1&storyid=54Why not check out video of last year's event.