Growing Ideas at Orchard
Bristol WORKS supported Orchard School to provide an alternative work experience programme for their year 10 students. We focussed on helping the students recognise their skills and talents as we introduced them to a wide range of employers and industries operating in and around Bristol.
With guidance and insight from technology specialists BJSS and sustainable building firm Stantec, students designed apps and bespoke hotels to exacting standards to get an idea of how to meet real-world briefs and how to work to limited budgets. We also helped the students realise the essential skills they’ve already developed such as how to overcome obstacles and set backs and even how to survive on a desert island!
The afternoon was an action-packed speed-networking session with over 15 organisations across Bristol involved. With just 5 minutes with each employer to get a sense of so many industries and routes into future roles, WORKS provided the students with some questions to kick start the quick-fire conversations, with employers answering enquiries like: how did you get started in your industry? and, most importantly, what is one piece of advice they would give to the students?
Following the session, the students and employers had the opportunity to reflect on their discussions, one student commented that “It was useful to get insight into different careers that I didn’t know about before and learning about the journeys to get to those points.” The organisations also found the day rewarding, one said they “enjoyed meeting enthusiastic students and learning about their passions.”
BUT THAT’S NOT ALL!
During this week, WORKS were joined by Bristol-based nature documentary makers Offspring Films who have worked with leading broadcasters such as Sky1. The team from Offspring Films shared a showreel featuring highlights from their recent productions and enabled students to investigate the equipment they had brought with them, including some camouflage gear, tripods and even special lenses and incredible heat sensitive cameras!
Students also explored how much it costs to make these kinds of films, working out budgets for transport to exotic locations, how to ensure sensitive equipment survives the trip and all sorts of other costs that go into getting that footage. Orchard students told us that the event “showed me how interesting and complex and fun film can be,” and that gaining the insight into what goes on before evening getting a single frame of footage was interesting, commenting that “It was useful learning about how they prepare themselves before travelling.”
Offspring Films themselves told us “It was great to see young people getting engaged and express interest in some of the TV job roles.”
What a busy and amazing week topped off by the fantastic attitude of the other students who joined us at Bristol City Council for a traditional work experience placement!