IMAGE CREDIT: Sussex Downs College
Young adults on The Prince’s Trust Team 17, run through Sussex Downs College, Eastbourne, are currently in the final phases of their programme working towards a qualification in ‘Teamwork, Employment and Community Skills’. Last week (Monday 21st November) the students attended mock interviews at HMD Pumps in Eastbourne.—Sussex Downs College, 29 November 2016
As part of their 12-week course, the students have been working on their CVs and talking about interview skills. The final stage of their course is to engage with employers and the community. Their learning was then put into practice as they visited HMD Pumps, based in Marshal Road, Eastbourne.
The interviews were a huge success and a great way for learners to put into practice everything they have learnt in the classroom. The human resources department at HMD Pumps have been very supportive of the course, and the constructive feedback learners received is invaluable as they develop their employability skills.
Sarah Woodhead, part of the Employer Engagement Team at Sussex Downs College, Eastbourne, comments: “Companies such as HMD who become involved with opportunities such as the mock interviews with The Prince’s Trust, play a vital role in the local community by providing the chance for young people to get real interview experience within the workplace from the application stage to feedback.
“Organisations benefit from the chance to see first-hand how individual young people cope with the discipline, opportunities and challenges of being in a real industry environment. It may even help them to identify their future apprentices as well as fulfilling their goals towards corporate social responsibility.
“Staff within the company who become involved with the collaboration get to practice or update their own interview techniques with real potential candidates; It can also provide them with a morale boost by being able to ‘give something back’
Sussex Downs College and The Princes Trust benefit from the feedback from the employer, this enables us to tailor our offer and plan our curriculum around specific needs or capabilities identified. Each collaboration helps to inform and provide further opportunities for the next group of young people.”
The Prince’s Trust Team Programme is a re-engagement course for young adults, helping them back into education, work experience or employment. This week the team are collecting goods, from clothes to toiletries , to donate to the Eastbourne Food Bank.
