Business leaders in Ayrshire ranked good communication skills as their top priority when recruiting young people.
In this mobile age of text messages, Instagram and Whats App our young people have yet to develop some of the skills that most businesses still rely on including answering the telephone. Supported by the Developing the Young Workforce and the Prince’s Trust, Greenwood Academy in Irvine secured resources to develop a skills based course to form part of the school’s response.
A unique practical learning unit with major Irvine employer VOCA Contact Centre was developed in partnership with the Faculty Leader of English and Literacy, Mrs Doig and now forms part of the curriculum. Pupils have been working with VOCA to develop literacy assessments which are directly relevant to the world of work, whilst adhering to SQA standards. Training was based on that delivered by VOCA to new staff recruits.
A mini call centre has been set up in the school where 10 students gain experience by calling parents to validate details and also to promote school events. This will grow to 20 students next year. This service will be extended to other schools transforming them into virtual assistants.
“We are delighted to see young people benefiting from the initiative and developing literacy to advance Employability Skills”, said Walter Smith Princes Trust.
At the opening of the centre Val Russell, Chief Executive of the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, who lead the regional DYW Group, and Victoria Edwards, Managing Director from VOCA both spoke about the significance of this development and praised the work of the school.
Val Russell went on to say “Call me Greenwood is a perfect example of education, a range of stakeholders and the private sector coming together all with a common aim of supporting our young people and develop in them the skills employers are looking for. This is exactly what Developing the Young Workforce was set up to do and is a perfect example of employer engagement in action truly fulfilling the recommendations of the Wood Report.
Win! Win! The students involved in this initiate have visited VOCA call centre and have all expressed interest in future employment and given the training they have received whilst as school creates a pre trained future workforce not only for VOCA but for other businesses.
If your business would like to become involved in developing new initiatives to support young people into work please contact Gillian Cameron on 01292 678666, or gcameron@ayrshire-chamber.org
