House about this for careers advice in Bristol?

Published by Gary Bolton for Connaught Plc in Education

Pupils at a Bristol school have been offered a chance to consider their options post compulsory education thanks to a careers event attended by the partners working to improve homes in the area.

Year 10 students from Mangotsfield School on Rodway Hill were invited to participate in the event to learn more about further education opportunities and potential career options with high profile local employers including the NHS, Armed Forces and home improvement partners Merlin Housing Society and Connaught Partnerships Ltd.

Throughout the day a total of 240 students from the school attended the event where they had the opportunity to pose questions and gather information from members of the Connaught team working to improve kitchens, bathrooms, roofs, windows and doors as well as completing electrical rewires and installing gas and electric central heating systems to Merlin Housing Society properties in the area.

Carey Phillips, vocational education co-ordinator at Mangotsfield School, said: "The objective of the day was for the students to meet with local employers and colleges to gain a better understanding and good insight into the real world and through the support on the day from local business and further learning organisations they were certainly able to do that.

“The event was a great success and the feedback we have received from both the students and the organisations involved was that the event offered an invaluable insight into the options open to young people and that can only be of benefit during a testing economic climate."

Jacky Ryan, Connaught customer experience manager, said: “Local employment is a key factor we have considered while working on home improvements in the area but it is not just the jobs we can offer immediately but also future opportunities and training that can last a lifetime. We were therefore delighted to participate in the careers event and the response we received from the pupils was excellent with many showing a real eagerness to learn more about the work we are doing in the area and what potential opportunities exist for the next generation of workforce.”

Merlin and Connaught are working to deliver £30 million worth of improvements to the society’s housing stock, as part of a five year partnership.