Brookes Bridges work experience: a new University initiative

Over the last year or more, the Bridges team in HR has been holding meetings with representatives from local schools, community organisations and networks to research practical measures that Brookes can take to make its interest, presence and commitment in the local community more real, and encourage local people to consider Brookes as an employer.

We have been working with Oxford Community School to develop a work experience programme for young people from the school. The initiative stems from our concern that the number of applications for jobs we receive from young people/school leavers living locally in east Oxford is remarkably small. The Chancellor made a particular point of encouraging the University to address this issue when he was appointed, but the progress made so far has been very limited. The Bridges team in HR has been working with local secondary schools in an attempt to raise the profile of the University as a potential employer as well as a place to study.

The Initiative is a year-long pilot scheme. It has been designed to provide pupils in years 10 to 13 with longish work experience placements in the University so that they get to know the institution and their work colleagues.

The success of the scheme and the partnership with OCS will depend on the level of support and encouragement that is obtained throughout the University. We need to identify suitable placements and a pool of work experience placement supervisors. We are working to a tight schedule as we need to have as many placements as possible ready to be offered out at the end of October.

Please have a look at the full details of the OCS/Brookes Partnership and the Strengthening Community Links Initiative from which it comes. If you think you would be interested in taking on the role of supervisor or would simply like some more information on the scheme please contact Michelle Montgomery (mmontgomery@brookes.ac.uk or 5929) or Kay Tillyer (ktillyer@brookes.ac.uk or 5917)