Careers event is just the start of better links with businesses

Alnwick's high school has teamed up with a new firm to deliver a careers event later this month '“ but that is just the beginning of the partnership.

The Duchess’s Community High School is working with Pathfinder North East, set up last year, and a careers event is taking place at the school on Wednesday, March 22.

One of Pathfinder’s co-founders, Gill Barrett, explained that their aim is to connect young people with businesses and to give them the best opportunities that they can have.

“We consider a young person should have the opportunity to become the best they can be – that’s our strap-line really,” she said.

“Not everyone wants to go to university or can be super academic, but it’s about helping young people work out what their options are.”

The other founder, Margaret Unsworth, added: “We want to let them know what’s out there as there are so many different opportunities and job roles that don’t come to the forefront of your mind. We’re just making that visible to students and parents.”

The school’s head of English, Martin Allenby, said: “We are really excited about the opportunity. We said when we moved that we wanted to make good contacts with local businesses and businesses further afield.

“We are excited about the opportunities our young people will have in seeing the labour market in the North East and how that fits with their aspirations.”

He added: “It’s also a chance to meet and engage with people from outside education and build relationships that will benefit everyone moving forward.

“In an area like ours, we have got to be able to give our students an idea of what it’s really like.”

There are more than 30 businesses lined up for the event, ranging from smaller firms from Alnwick and the surrounding areas to bigger regional companies as well as ex-students, colleges and apprenticeship providers.

Careers will be the focus for the whole day and it will run into the early evening so that parents can attend as well.

“We have never done anything like this before,” said Mr Allenby.

“What’s attractive about Pathfinder is we can bring our academic and pastoral background and they can help us develop real-world skills and put learning in a real-world context.”

Pathfinder would welcome being contacted by any businesses or schools which wish to get involved. Send an email to [email protected]