LoveLocalJobs.com are happy to share the latest news from our Founding Partner Hastings Direct.

Hastings Direct, in partnership with LoveLocalJobs.com and Humanutopia launched the first full Be the Change programme at Bexhill High Academy this week.

180 students from Bexhill High Academy came together at the Azur venue in Hastings to join representatives from Hastings Direct and the partnering companies, to be part of thought provoking and at times emotional, discussions on overcoming behavioural and psychological obstacles to positively shape and mould their future.

Bringing their own experience to the day by providing support and offering personal anecdotes to the students, 30 business volunteers from Hastings Direct began their journey as Be the Change mentors. Over the coming months, the business volunteers will meet the students to encourage further understanding on how to develop life skills that will help them happy and successful in their lives and their careers. 

Amanda Menahem, HR Director, Hastings Direct said; “The Be the Change launch event was incredible. I was humbled to see so many teenagers come out of their comfort zones, find their voice and start to understand that they have choices and are masters of their future.  Overcoming emotional and behavioural barriers to effectiveness allows teenagers to truly unlock their potential. As employers, we know that qualifications don’t make a difference if an individual doesn’t have the inner confidence to speak up, grab opportunities and collaborate effectively in a team. Hastings Direct’s 30 business volunteers were also honoured to be part of such a transformational day, being there to help teenagers to become more employable and hopefully go on to have careers with Hastings Direct.”

The Be the Change programme aims to raise the aspirations of year 9 students (aged 13-14), helping them to remove barriers that may make them disengaged at school and provide them with life skills to take into the future.
Speaking directly to the students throughout the launch day, Graham Moore, Co-Founder, Humanutopia reflected; “Launching Be the Change to the students of Bexhill High Academy has been an absolutely awesome experience. Their engagement in the programme produced immediate results in students’ confidence and self-awareness. They are a credit to their school and community. It was a pleasure to also work with the business volunteers from Hastings Direct who further enriched the experience of the students with their commitment and professionalism. ”

Gary Peters, Chief Executive, LoveLocalJobs.com said; “Seeing the impact of Be the Change on 180 year 9 students was incredible. Looking around the room towards the end of the day, there was not one student who wasn't engaged, contemplating their future and seriously considering the fact that they themselves have the power to make positive changes in order to be successful and happy in life. We are over the moon to be launching our first full Be the Change Programme at Bexhill Academy with the incredible support of sponsors Hastings Direct – together we will deliver an extremely powerful initiative.”

Watch the Bexhill launch event with Hastings Direct here:

Hastings Direct Media Relations Officer: Natalie Sadlier. Tel: 01424 735 735 extn. 8225. pr@hastingsdirect.com  

About Hastings Direct
Hastings Direct is one of the fastest growing personal lines insurance providers to the UK market, with 2 million customers and employing over 2,000 people at sites in Bexhill, Newmarket, Leicester and Gibraltar. 
Voted Car Insurer Provider of the Year for the third year running by the public at the Consumer Moneyfacts Awards, we are an organisation that has built its business by championing the customer through our refreshingly straightforward service and products. We offer car, motorcycle, van and household insurance direct to the public.
Hastings Direct is a trading name of Hastings Insurance Services Limited, which also trades via the “People’s Choice” and “insurePink” brands.

We are a multi award winning business:

• 2015 Car Insurance Provider of the Year, Consumer Moneyfacts Awards (third year running)
• 2015 UK Broker Awards, Personal Lines Broker of the Year (second year running)
• 2015 'Team of the Year', Financial Experience Awards 
• 2014 British Insurance Awards, Personal Lines Broker of the Year  
• 2014 HR Excellence Awards, Most Effective Recruitment Strategy 

About LoveLocalJobs.com 
LoveLocalJobs.com has an award winning family of regional job boards in Sussex and Surrey. It works proactively to link businesses, universities, colleges and schools, public sector, charities and community groups and other organisations to promote and create local employment opportunities in the South East, whilst also providing much needed careers, information, advice and guidance to local businesses and job-seekers alike.

About Humanutopia
Humanutopia is a social business that creates and runs inspirational courses in schools for students and staff.  Their courses are based on personal, social and workplace skills development, and improve the hope, confidence, happiness, relationships, and employability of participating students. Over the last 11 years Humanutopia have worked with over 200,000 young people, 200 schools, 25,000 adults and 20,000 heroes.