Supporting Careers at the Westwood Academy

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training firmly believe that its partnerships with schools are helping to prepare young people for their transition into the world of work.

One shining example is the collaboration with The Westwood Academy in Coventry. Over the past 7 years, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training has worked alongside the school to raise young people’s awareness about career paths and employment opportunities to support them in the next stage of their lives. It is a testament now that The Westwood Academy has been recognised for its ‘outstanding’ career work, achieving the national Quality in Careers Standard and Gold Award awarded by Ixion (Part of the Shaw Trust Group). This national accreditation demonstrates how the school regards the importance of career education and reflects its commitment to ensuring young people make informed choices.

Through its partnership with Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training, The Westwood Academy present a range of opportunities for young people to think about

#Featurefriday Instagram Live Inspiring Young People

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training are making innovative strides to ensure that young people transitioning from school and college in 2023 are equipped with the knowledge they need to embark on a rewarding career path.

Using the power of social media, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training have leveraged its Instagram platform to deliver a #featurefriday live series of broadcasts. This engaging series showcases the journeys of apprentices in sectors such as early years care, business administration and hairdressing.

The campaign highlights the remarkable accomplishments of Blondies, a long-standing hairdressing salon in Coventry that recently commemorated 40 years of success.

Blondies has worked in partnership with Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training to offer high-quality apprenticeships over many years, which have benefited the business and enabled young people to develop strong technical hairdressing skills with some going on to start their own businesses.

As part of the #featurefriday live series, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training interviewed Glenda Miller, owner of Blondies, along with her newest apprentice, Millie Clarkson. The live feed interview provided an insight into the real-life experiences of a hairdressing apprentice and the positive impact apprenticeships have had on the individual and the business. Viewers actively engaged during the live stream, submitting questions to the apprenticeship experts at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training, to find out more about how apprenticeships work.

In a live statement, Glenda emphasized, "Hairdressing apprenticeships are an exceptional avenue for acquiring experience and expertise within the industry." This live stream series also featured early years care apprentices sharing their experience of combining the workplace alongside structured learning off the job. In another live feed, three business administrator apprentices talked about their reasons for choosing apprenticeships, their experiences at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training and how they are benefiting from working and learning.

the world of work. This includes an annual career fair to inform students from Year 7 upwards about apprenticeship opportunities and career pathways and a "Pop-up Shop" to help Key Stage 4 students consider options for their futures.

By joining forces with Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training, The Westwood Academy enable young people to make connections to employers, apprenticeships, and further learning. Through strong collaboration with local businesses, students can better understand the local jobs market.

Sally Hodge, Head of Careers at The Westwood Academy, commented

“Over the last three years, our pupils have benefited enormously from taster sessions in children’s care and hairdressing at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training. They have participated in practical workshops and activities to give them a true feel for what apprenticeships in these sectors might entail. Our partnership with Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training adds value to our work to prepare young people for the future.”

Through the #featurefriday live series, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training demonstrated the real-life benefits apprenticeships bring both to businesses and individuals. By showcasing the journey of actual apprentices and facilitating insightful discussions, this campaign spotlighted the many opportunities available through apprenticeships. Watch the series on @cw_chamber_training Instagram channel.

Are you looking to recruit an apprentice in your company or wanting to train and develop existing staff, contact us directly by calling 0246231122 or email us at enquiries@cw-chambertraining.co.uk.