The pandemic has altered the way we have all worked during the last 10 months. This impact will continue as we all try to adapt to different ways of working.
Annually the BEST Team (Business and Education Succeeding Together) supports approximately 1600 young people to access work experience. This opportunity disappeared last year, and next year’s programme will continue to be shaped by the changes in the workplace. The BEST Team is part of Lifelong Learning and located in the Children’s Services Department.
A work experience placement is usually the first interaction that a young person has with the world of work and the BEST Team is determined that the service should continue for many years to come. The service is in its 27th year!
Wandsworth BEST had its first Virtual work experience workshop at the beginning of December 2020 which involved 15 students from St Francis Xavier College.
Simon Pollen from the council’s HR Team is pictured above delivering a session on how to construct the perfect CV!
It was a great success, and this is down to the commitment of all involved – students, tutors, several staff within the council and some highly committed local business and employers. The week was packed with different activities and talks from Fulham Football Club, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, Wandsworth Borough Council, RAPP (marketing and communications company), Barclays UK LifeSkills, Iqualtech (electronics), NOW TV and Sainsburys.
A special thank you to Keisha, Tina and Betty from the BEST Team! If you are interested in being involved in future work experience activities – this could involve presenting to students, helping with interviews, providing work experience opportunities in the future, please contact BEST@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk
