Pathway – West Sussex school students launch online employment advice resource

An initiative to help young people learn about and access the workplace was launched at theUniversity of Chichester‘s Dome Conference Centre in Bognor Regis on December 4. Pathway ‘Steps to Success‘, is an online resource developed by local school students with the support and guidance of career and employment professionals fromCoastalWestSussexJobs.com, along with local authorities, businesses and educational establishments.

Pathway offers advice on how to look for and apply for jobs, how to deliver the perfect interview and an insight into what employers expect from young people joining their business. Key resources include interviews with local hiring managers and business people with knowledge of the local job markets.

Clive Behagg, Vice Chancellor of University of Chichester warmly welcomed guests to the launch at The Dome Conference Centre, Bognor Regis Campus. Other Strategic Partners of LoveLocalJobs.com were also present representing Northbrook College and Chichester College. The university and the colleges have given the project great support, with Northbrook College facilitating the school engagement for the project via their Careers Hub.

The students, who are from local schools, were presented with certificates of achievement by Caroline Wood, Coastal West Sussex Partnership Director. She commented: “I’ve been delighted to support this project on behalf of the Coastal West Sussex Partnership.  It’s been a great opportunity for these young people to be involved in a live project that will actually be used by hundreds of others and at the same time, allowing them to learn and practice new skills that will prepare them for the world of work.”

Reece Osborn, 15, from Felpham Community College said: “This has been such an engaging project to work on. It has taught me many life-lessons that I know will transfer into the professional world. Learning teamwork, time management and communication skills will really benefit me after school, looking to move into the world of work and the relationships I have built with employers and professionals has been invaluable.”

Natalie Walker, People and Development Manager at Goodwood, is one of the 24 local employers who has supported the development of Pathway.  She said: “Working with these young people has shown me how much potential they have in a workplace. They are hardworking, resilient, passionate and creative. These core values are just as important as the qualifications they’ll receive and as an employer it is their attitude to work that will make them stand out from the crowd.

“I am so pleased to have contributed to the website, it is full of useful resources from all sectors that provides young people with the right information they need to succeed in finding work.”

Georgina Angele, Senior Partnerships Manager at LoveLocalJobs.com, said: “This project is a true collaboration between schools, colleges, businesses and local authorities which will help prepare young people for work and inspire them to find the right path through education to find a rewarding job that they will enjoy. The students have been an inspiration and our partners have been a fantastic support. I was really pleased to see parents at the launch too and hope that Pathway will be accessed by young people both at school or college and at home.”

Pathway is a partnership between LoveLocalJobs.com, West Sussex County Council, the Coastal West Sussex Partnership, Adur and Worthing Councils and Chichester District Council. The participating schools include: Angmering School; Chatsmore Catholic High School; Durrington High School; Felpham Community College; Littlehampton Academy; Sir Robert Woodard Academy and Steyning Grammar School.

Film and media students from Chichester College, Northbrook College and Worthing College were responsible for producing the employer films for the website. Their work contributed to the project as well as to their personal qualifications and work experience.

Pathway is hosted within the advice section of CoastalWestSussexJobs.com and is available for all local schools, colleges and young people to access. pathway.coastalwestsussexjobs.com