It joined the Warrington Pledge, where employers and schools work together to bridge the gap between industry and education, and implemented an interactive outreach programme to access the schools with the highest need based on pupil premium expenditure.
Students are taught employability skills such as CV writing, interviewing and IT coding, and when possible, sessions emulate a working environment. For example, students in coding workshops are grouped to code and create a game, developing their teamwork and presentation skills as well as their ability to work under short notice and to tight deadlines. The interactive workshops broaden career horizons and pique interest, particularly about STEM subjects among girls.
The workshops were launched in 2020 and delivered by a diverse group of volunteers from different business functions, allowing them to learn from each other too. The programme has already reached and inspired 45 students to pursue coding further, an increasingly sought-out skill.