Class of 2009 graduate from Career Academy 15.06.2009
Twelve students from Blackburn celebrated at their graduation ceremony after successfully completing a course at one of Blackburn College’s Career Academies.
Family, friends and student mentors attended the event which was the perfect opportunity for students to showcase their accomplishments and relish being the College’s first Academy graduates.
Presenting students with their scrolls and delivering a motivational speech was local entrepreneur, Tom Stables, who has developed a successful business model designed to boost the employability of students.
Blackburn is the only college in the North West which has two career academies, one in Business and a second in IT. The two-year national education programme aims to raise the career aspirations of 16 to 19-year-olds and gives young people a fresh outlook on their future education and an insight into career expectations.
Equivalent to one A Level, the qualification is taken alongside three other A Levels or a National Diploma in IT and includes one-to-one mentoring by business volunteers and a six-week paid internship. This provides students with practical, hands-on training in a corporate environment.
Graduate Adam Hopley, 18, of Leopold Way, said: “The Career Academy puts life in a different perspective and I’ve become more articulate and proactive on completion of the course.
“I really benefited from the mentoring aspect of the course as my mentor helped me with employability skills such as time management, problem solving, CV writing and interview techniques which has been invaluable, especially when applying to Universities,” Adam finished.
Local businesses that are involved in the Academy include Blackburn Rovers Trust, Capita, Twin Valley Homes and Lloyds TSB.
Ian Clinton, College Principal, said: “The objective of the course is to ensure that young people will become successful employees who are equipped with self-confidence, professionalism, and the skills to work effectively.
“By combining education with the world of work we are putting a practical element into studying and in turn, raising education standards, which gives young people essential, employable skills.”
Ninety-five per cent of Career Academy students go on to higher education or an equivalent level of work-related training, compared with forty per cent who were predicted to do so before joining the programme.
For further information on the Career Academy or courses available at Blackburn College please contact Student Services on 01254 29-29-29 or visit their website www.blackburn.ac.uk.
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