VIRTUAL SHOWCASE ENGAGES YOUNG PEOPLE WITH HOW THE WORLD OF WORK WORKS
Finding increasingly creative ways of engaging Year 10s (rising Year 11s) in two south Bristol schools with routes into work, Bristol WORKS has made the transition to full-on virtual delivery during the lockdown, seamlessly and successfully. TIN Smart Social (TSS) were delighted to be asked to contribute to the online event that included ‘how-to’ videos; real work challenges that students could complete at home; workshops and online Q and As with employers.
The TSS approach was through its ‘Future-Fix Challenge’ inspiring students to get together with friends who like the same things (their Tribe) to re-imagine or create new products and services that mean the most to them. They pitch their ideas – film, talk, create an ad or social campaign or write and draw their ideas and upload their content. Challenges include ‘what if you could revolutionise how your favourite trainers are designed?’ or ‘what if you could change online learning at school with a platform built by students for students’ or ‘what if you could invent a new 5G mobile phone? The approach builds confidence, with students understanding that they have something important to contribute and that their ideas, their voices and their viewpoints matter.
TSS’ 1000 Tribes concept focuses on young people engaging with big brands and corporates to share their ideas. To emphasise this, the best Future Fix team will win Chromebooks and a profile of their project on the TSS website. They also have the opportunity for their ‘tribe’ to work with an expert business mentor to develop their concepts and gain work experience with an employer to understand business, product and service development.
Future Fix for Bristol Works aligns with TIN Smart Social’s Digisheds CAN DO DIGITAL digital skills development and employability programme, an accessible, inclusive and free three-phased digital employability programme. Tailored specialist experiential learning supports young people to move into work in either Professional and Cloud Services; Creative, Film, Media and Gaming or Digital Manufacturing and Construction and digital skills training is complemented with wraparound wellbeing support. In specialist experiential learning studios, young people get to work with partner employers to immerse themselves in their business, culture and objectives so that they become ‘work-ready’ with the right skills, understanding of work relationships and resilience businesses need to meet post-Covid challenges. Employers are far more invested, in every sense, not only in the outcomes of the young people, but also in their development journeys as the programme also provides them with a more dynamic, diverse and inclusive talent pipeline.
Kate Robertshaw, Head of Curriculum Delivery and Design at TIN Smart Social says,
“It’s a pleasure working with Hayley Galpin at Bristol Works to support the virtual WEX initiative as it aligns with our work supporting disadvantaged young people into work in a truly practical way. Our Digisheds CAN DO DIGITAL approach (16-30s) is focused on transforming the raw digital talent of young people, particularly from under represented and disadvantaged backgrounds, into marketable propositions for employers. Future-Fix is a great starting point for Year 10s to share their ideas and it helps us to understand how they see their future and what they want from the world of work. In the promo film we capture some of the creative digital VR work that young people are getting involved in. We want to explore creative digital ways in which they can get their voices heard – because we know employers want to listen“
Hayley Galpin, Manager of Bristol WORKS adds
“It has been fantastic to work with TIN Smart Social and other organisations during this time who are responding creatively, dynamically and proactively to provide experiences of work for those most in need within the City. This challenge developed by TIN Smart Social has meant young people can engage with the working world at home and can continue to explore the wider opportunities and work possibilities that are available to them. We look forward to continuing to work with TIN Smart Social in the coming months!”
Alex Cole, CEO TIN Smart Social concludes,
“Place-based employability that supports the economic growth of the region is at the heart of what we do and we are excited about supporting Bristol WORKS right now. It’s such an exciting time and we hope that we can continue to work together to replicate our successful West Midlands digital employability programme into one for the South West, with Digisheds hubs in Bristol, Reading and London.”