Castell Alun High School students show their creative si de

West Cheshire & North Wales Young Chamber sponsor, Platts Agriculture, recently delivered an engaging presentation along with a thought-provoking marketing activity to students at Castell Alun High School in Hope, North Wales.

“I was really impressed with the creative ideas they came up with when set a task to develop a marketing plan for launching a new range of branded clothing for farmers! Both myself and Platts are glad to be able to support a school so local to us and hopefully inspire some other young people into studying business further!”

The students were given the opportunity to be interviewed by a representative from one of the seven different Young Chamber Sponsors in attendance. The aim of the experience of being interviewed by a business professional was to give students an idea of what they can expect when making the step from education into the working world. The students also received feedback so that they could leave the day, not only with the experience of an interview but also with an idea of where they can improve when it comes to a future job, College or University interview.

Andrea Watts, Careers Lead at Queen’s Park High School commented the following about the event: “I would like to thank all of the employers who gave up their time to provide such a valuable experience for our Sixth Form students. This opportunity has enhanced their understanding of the interview process, how to engage positively in an interview situation and through the feedback provided from the employers, to take positive steps forward”.

Platt’s Sales & Marketing Director, Nadia McKane, started the session by introducing herself and giving the students some information on what Platts does, how they were set up, and some of the important day-to-day activities that her job entails. Nadia also provided details on some of the areas of her role that take a longer time, such as converting a lead from a trade show into a full business-to-business working relationship.

The students then had the chance to get creative when Nadia set them a task to plan a marketing campaign for the launch of a clothing range aimed at farmers aged 17 – 25. The students used useful skills and information that Nadia gave them in her presentation.

Nadia had the following to say about the event:

“It was great to be able to share with these students some examples of campaigns we run at Platts to bring the theories the students have been learning to life.

Ellesmere Port Catholic High School Appretiship Talks

Ahead of National Apprenticeship Week, The West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce’s Young Chamber programme helped to spread the word about apprenticeships to the entire year 9 group of students at Ellesmere Port Catholic High School.

The students were given the opportunity to listen to an expert panel of Young Chamber Sponsors who explained what apprenticeships are and why businesses value apprentices within their workforce. The aim of the experience was to help students understand the benefits and career opportunities that vocational educational pathways can provide as they make their decisions about their GCSE options. The students heard from two employers who both regularly recruit apprentices, Molly Whelan from The Countess of Chester Hospital and Andrew Barton from Brownlow Furniture. Both Molly and Andrew were able to share their experiences of successful career pathways for young people through apprenticeships within their organisations.

Lexi Adamson, Careers Lead at Ellesmere Port Catholic High commented: “thank you for the support you provided in organising the event this morning at EPCHS. The range of providers and employers that students had the opportunity to hear from was fantastic, and it was a great way to introduce students to the variety and value of apprenticeships in the area”