Exceptional New Employability Hub Given the ‘Green Light’ at Kings

By Sam Kail-Dyke – Wessex Learning Trust

As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s become clearer than ever that high quality careers advice is a necessity for young people throughout their time at school. At the Wessex Learning Trust we place careers and employability high on our agenda for young people, and as such we are delighted that the Kings of Wessex Academy (one of our 14 partner schools) has announced its intentions to create a brand new ‘Employability & Learning Hub’ on site, for its students to use throughout their time at the school.

The employability hub project, which is being led by Employability Co-ordinator at the school, Sally Devlin, will see the current careers office be expanded to include more space for collaborative working, workshops with local businesses, dedicated IT facilities as well as one-to-one sessions with students. In this way the school will be able to offer key services such as mock interviews, drop-in sessions for CVs, HE and college applications, and apprenticeship hunting to more students than ever; ensuring everyone can leave school with the support and knowledge they need to succeed in their next steps.

To facilitate the development of the new employability hub, the Kings of Wessex has been incredibly fortunate to receive sponsorship from several local businesses who have collectively donated equipment and money to the value of almost £10,000 to help the conversion and development of the new venture. 

The generous businesses who have supported the employability hub are:

BGW Solicitors, Cooper and Tanner,  DeNovo Healthcare Ltd, Hanson Aggregates, Kiddimoto, Lye Cross Farm, Merryweather Williams Solicitors, Extra Mile Printing and Embroidery, Ocean Adventurers, Sansum Solutions Ltd, The FSC Group, and former student, now stand-up comedian: Richard Herring.

The school hopes to maintain links with these incredibly generous organisations so that they may be able to visit the hub and support and inspire students with direct, real world careers sessions from those within the industry.

Commenting on the success of raising funds for the Employability Hub, Sally Devlin said:

“I’m so proud that we will be able to further develop our careers and employability opportunities for students with the brand-new employability hub, opening in the autumn term. Our children work incredibly hard at school and deserve the best support so that they can seize opportunities after Kings with both hands – be that employment, apprenticeship, further education, or employment. I can’t wait to work with the amazing young people who will come through the hub next year and am extremely grateful to the businesses who have invested in the next generation by donating to this initiative.”

Sally Devlin – Employability Coordinator

Headteacher at the Kings of Wessex, Dave Wiltshire, also commented:

“The last year has hit everyone hard, not least young people who are having to leave education into an uncertain world; however thanks to the new employability hub at the Kings of Wessex Academy I am confident that we will be able to offer unparalleled support for every child who comes through our doors, and prepare them for whatever a post COVID world looks like.”

Dave Wiltshire – Headteacher

The Kings of Wessex looks forward to opening the new Employability Hub in the new academic year with (restrictions permitting) a grand opening attended by representatives from the businesses who have donated to the project.

If you are interested in finding out more about the employability hub, or your organisation would like to contribute to the growth of the facility, please contact Sally Devlin at SDevlin@kowessex.co.uk