A window into the world of work

Sponsored Editorial

The ‘Skills Escalator Days’ saw a variety of industries create short interactive sessions giving the youngsters - who were mostly aged between six and seven - a window into the world of Work.

The event took place at the North Cambridgeshire Training Centre in Chatteris. The schools involved were Mepal & Witcham, Cromwell, Kingsfield, Benwick, Glebelands, Lionel Walden and Thomas Eaton.

The occasion was organised by the Eastern Education Group (that incorporates Abbeygate Sixth Form College, the University & Professional Development Centre and West Suffolk College in Bury St Edmunds, One Sixth Form College in Ipswich and Personal and Professional Learning Centres across the region).

Organisations involved included Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, HSBC, Metalcraft, MJS Construction, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, the Royal Air Force and the NHS.

Victoria Fiebelkorn is the organiser and Group Head of the Skills Escalator for the Eastern Education Group. She said: “The Skills Escalator Days first began in 2022. To date over 3,000 children from 80 primary schools have attended their local Skills Escalator Day. This was the second event we have hosted in Chatteris, building on the success and demand from 2023 we added a second day, allowing not just the three Chatteris primary schools to attend, but also another four from surrounding villages.

“Skills Escalator Days directly link school children with the world of work, to allow them to see and talk to people from industry to build in them a lifelong curiosity and passion for their future careers. They are not about asking children to choose a career path or decide what they will do when they grow up – they are about raising aspirations, showing the children the exciting world of work, and what they could do when they grow up.

“Career education in early primary school is very important – by the time a child is eight years old they have firmly embedded views about what they can and can’t do – so the more aspirations we can spark in them at a young age, the better.”

Hannah Butler, who is a teacher at Glebelands Primary School, added: “This was my first time here (to a skills escalator event) and I think it is such a valuable resource for this area. It helps level out the playing field for children (by attending events like this). I would have benefitted from having an event like this when I was at primary school.”

Kate Greenwood also came along from Cambridge University Hospitals. Kate is the Works Opportunity Manager and aims to try and get school children interested in working for the NHS in the future.

“We promote different roles you can have and these events get children thinking about how they can help people in the future. I think it’s good to plant the seed early and I think it's brilliant what the colleges are doing.”

John Rashley is the Health and Safety Manager for the MJS Group. He and his team had sessions for the youngsters where they were able to sit on a digger.

He said: “The construction industry is crying out to get young people into the industry so it’s important to get out to schools and spread the word.”

Rebecca Stimson is an Environmental and Social Value at MJS Construction in March. “I came along to show the children that construction isn’t just for boys.”

Dylan, 7 from Lionel Walden Primary School, added “I saw a digger and a fire engine and it’s been pretty cool” while six-year-old Florence from Lionel Walden Primary School described the whole day as “lovely”.

You can find out more about the North Cambridgeshire Training Centre, including its Apprenticeship programmes and Adult Learning courses, by visiting wsc.ac.uk/nctc