Coordinated by the Trust’s Director of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance, Jo Sykes, Reach, brings local businesses and academies together to address social mobility, help students develop key employability skills and prepare them for the world of work. 

Throughout the unique Trust-led careers programme, each secondary academy worked in partnership with a local STEM business on multiple meaningful, virtual and in-person employer encounters with students also gaining up to 5 AQA certificates of employability.

Jo Sykes explains why programmes like Reach are so valuable for young people:

"It’s really important to give young people opportunities to develop their employability and life skills outside of the normal school curriculum. When you are young, it is sometimes hard to visualise career paths or understand all of the roles and jobs that are available. We wanted to give them an understanding of the wider roles that are available and how developing skills like teamwork, problem solving, communication and leadership skills can enhance their own future prospects. We also wanted them to enjoy the experience and have some fun!”

At a celebration presentation held at Co-op Academy Manchester, students were treated to a special lunch and received their certificates. In addition, they heard from motivational speaker Kamal Hyman who spoke to students about their futures.

We'd like to extend a big 'thank you' to everyone involved for helping to make it such a success and to all the companies below who supported this year’s programme:

Balfour Beatty

Atkins Realis

Enerveo

Buro Happold

Keltbray

Link contracting

Innovex