There was a potentially life-changing event for youngsters visiting Alderley Park in Macclesfield's this week.

Almost 100 Year 13 students from across Cheshire had the chance to gain vital real-world experience and spend time with employers to help them when it comes to applying for apprenticeships. 

96 Students, who are all looking to progress onto an apprenticeship this year, attended the mock assessment centres at Alderley Park. The day was organised by The Cheshire and Warrington Pledge and is part of a wider Pledge Employment Readiness Programme.

Ten schools and colleges attended the day from across Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Knutsford, Poynton, Sandbach, Congleton and Warrington.

The students got the opportunity to take part in the types of activities carried out at genuine assessment centres for apprenticeship programmes. 

Alderley Park is located on Congleton Road.

This included a team building task, the chance to meet apprentices from a range of companies, a speed interview in front of a panel of employers and then a tour of Alderley Park during which the students had a chance to talk to the apprenticeships providers about their offer. 

A 20 plus employer and apprenticeship panel took part in the day including Barclays, Platinum Accountancy, ProSeal and Gentronix. 

The Pledge team is engaged with 100% of mainstream Secondary schools and more than 300 employers in Cheshire and Warrington have interacted with more than 100,000 student engagements.

Trevor Brocklebank, Deputy Chair of Cheshire and Warrington LEP, said: "It was fantastic to be able to offer this opportunity to the students. This sort of experience can be vital when it comes to applying for apprenticeships and I know that it will be really beneficial to the students that attended. 

"We're committed to working with businesses to inspire young people about local opportunities and this was a great chance to get both groups together to do this. 

A student take part in the mock assessment centre at Alderley Park.

"We've had fantastic feedback from businesses and students on the day, with businesses praising the students for their motivation and investment in entering employment and telling us how inspiring they found the day. 

"The students have said how the day has really helped with their confidence and how they really learnt a lot from the experience, including what businesses are looking for when hiring.

"Thank you to all the businesses for getting involved and I look forward to hearing about all the future success the students have."

May Hawkins, Head of Sixth Form at Cheshire Studio School, said: "The Year 13 students found the mock assessment centre event highly insightful to understanding the recruitment process of apprenticeships and found it invaluable to meet current apprentices from local employers. This is not the first time we have attended and nor will it be the last."

Alderley Park was a perfect venue for the skills and confidence boosting-session, being a hub of innovation.

Dr Laura Hinton, Operations Director at Gentronix, said: "We were really pleased to have the chance to meet the students and help to support them as they look to enter the world of work. 

"I was really impressed with how motivated and well prepared they are to enter employment and the day helped solidify our thoughts about taking on a school leaver ourselves.

"We have already put out a job advert for an entry level position* as a result of such a positive and reassuring experience. 

"I hope the students enjoyed the day, found the experience useful, and can use what they learnt as they look to enter the world of work."

As well as the quarter of Macclesfield schools, local businesses and organisations also supported the event.

The full list of local businesses involved were as follows:  

• Civil Service
• Platinum Accountancy
• Apprentify
• Bioscript
• Senior Aerospace Bird Bellows
• SETA Training
• Embrace Marketing
• Barclays
• ProSeal
• Macclesfield College
• Leap 29
• Hynes Brothers
• Gentronix
• Beaconplus
• Steinias
• Kalini Kent confidence coaching consultant

 The full list of schools which benefitted from the event were as follows:

• Tytherington High School Sixth Form
• Knutsford Multi Academy Trust Sixth Form
• Poynton High School Sixth Form
• Wilmslow High School Sixth Form 
• The Fallibroome Academy Sixth Form 
• Eaton Bank Academy Sixth Form Centre      
• Sandbach School Sixth Form 
• Congleton High Sixth Form 
• Priestly College 
• Kings School Macclesfield Sixth Form 
• All Hallows Catholic College Sixth Form

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