Year 11 students at the school who will be taking their GCSEs during this academic year, were encouraged to try the mock interviews. The activity was to ensure students knew what to expect when they begin their careers, after this year or in the future.

Connex also provided the students with an overview of various careers and how to go about finding their first jobs once they finish studying. Connex Education Strategy Director Gemma Charvet said:

This was a really useful event for the students of Ellis Guilford. For many, it’s difficult to decide upon a career at that age. Most don’t have any real-world experience of the working environment. By providing advice on the processes of finding a job, including CV writing tips and mock interviews, we were able to provide assistance and valuable insight into what they can expect in the future.

Connex has previously carried out events in schools in different areas of Nottingham and Gemma has noticed a significant knowledge gap about career avenues between inner-city children and their suburban counterparts. She said:

“The biggest thing we’ve noticed from these events is that inner-city children from more challenging backgrounds tend to have a knowledge gap about the different careers available. That’s why it was so valuable to attend the event today and talk about the different career paths available and skill sets required. Hopefully, they can go away with more information and skills.”

The Careers Leader of Ellis Guilford, Mrs Arberry also attended the event and was pleased with the results. She said, “It’s important that companies such as Connex are able to attend and share their expertise. Our students really benefited from the event, particularly the mock interviews which were professionally carried out by the Connex staff.”

Connex Education is an established education recruitment agency in the Nottinghamshire region and is planning to attend more events similar to the one held at Ellis Guilford. The agency was set up in 1999 and has over five boutique offices across the UK. It recruits for primary and secondary teachers, teaching assistants, cover supervisors and early years practitioners on a day to day, long-term and permanent basis. It also provides an employment-based SCITT programme for aspiring teachers.

Ellis Guilford School is a secondary comprehensive school in Bar Lane, Old Basford, Nottingham. The school provides education for students aged 11–16.

For more information about Connex Education, please visit their website HERE.

The post Connex Education helps local school students with career skills appeared first on Bluestones Group.

Bluestones One, which has offices throughout the UK, has pledged to support food banks based in the North West throughout the festive period and into the new year by opening a food bank drop off point in its Chester office.

The commercial and industrial recruiter, which is based in Mill House on Russell Street, has promised to collect the most needed foods and gifts and deliver them directly to the food bank warehouses to support them during this busy period. Bluestones One will also work with businesses throughout the area to help collate and deliver their donations to the foodbanks.

Katie Donnelly, Bluestones One Chester Director, said “We understand that there are many people who would like to help their local food banks but aren’t able to reach a warehouse or collection point to make their donation. That’s why we decided to open our own drop off point to enable people who live and work in the area to make their donations. We’re based in an ideal location close to the train station and Waitrose, making it easy for people to pop in.”

“We have offered to collect donations from businesses across the North West and North Wales and deliver them along with the other donations to the foodbanks we are supporting. We know that this is such a busy period for the food banks and the service that they provide is so important, so we wanted to offer our support and give back to the community throughout December and the whole of January.”

If you would like to donate, you can visit the Bluestones One office Monday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm – 1st Floor Suite, Mill House, Russell Street, Chester, CH3 5AL. If you’re a local business who would like to contribute to the collection, please contact the Bluestones One Chester team on 01244 555 090.

As advised by the food bank service, the following donations will be gladly accepted:
• Biscuits
• Cereal
• Christmas cake
• Christmas pudding
• Coffee
• Cuppa soup
• Curry sauces
• Gift for children and teenagers
• Gift for adults
• Instant mash
• Jams
• Jar of pickles
• Juice UHT
• Milk UHT
• Packet savoury rice or noodles
• Pasta sauces
• Pot noodles
• Rice pudding
• Selection box
• Shampoo
• Small box chocolates
• Soap
• Tinned custard
• Tinned fish
• Tinned fruit
• Tinned fruit cocktail
• Tinned gammon
• Tinned potatoes
• Tinned ready meals
• Tinned tomatoes
• Tinned vegetables
• Tinned/packet custard
• Toilet rolls
• Toiletries
• Toothpaste

The post Bluestones One Chester supports local food banks appeared first on Bluestones Group.