Gosport and Fareham Trust newsletter - business special

Special 2020 Business newsletter Alex Thomson (centre) with the GFM leadership team

Yachtsman Alex backing Trust marine programme The Gosport and Fareham Multi-Academy Trust will be launching its new marine and maritime lessons and has enlisted the support of a record-breaking yachtsman to help.

Students will be taught marine engineering as well as lessons in maritime marketing and design. British yachtsman, Alex Thomson, who is based in Gosport, has been appointed as course patron.

Alex, 45, was the youngest skipper ever to win the Clipper round-the-world yacht race and holds the single hull record for a solo, unassisted circumnavigation of the globe.

Alex said: “This is a huge step towards providing young people in the local area with solid foundations on which to build exciting careers on the water.

“But as well as that, this initiative will also benefit the maritime and marine sector enormously by providing a skilled and enthusiastic future workforce, helping to bridge the skills gap in the industry.”

As well as providing a formal qualification, Alex also believes the course will benefit children’s personal development.

“From independence and resilience to teamwork and communication, there are so many values that young people can learn from getting out on the water,” he added.

Chief executive at the GFM, Ian Potter,

Racing mode: Alex on the ocean

said: “I personally thank Alex for agreeing to become the patron of the new marine and maritime curriculum.

“Through Alex and our other marine partners this innovative new programme will help our young people develop important life skills and boost their future employment prospects.”

The move is part of an initiative to develop more vocational learning programmes linked to the marine industry, including a partnership with Portsmouth Harbour Marine.

Assistant Headteacher and Community Curriculum Lead at the GFM, Chris Willis, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Portsmouth Harbour Marine in developing a hugely exciting maritime curriculum for all children in Gosport.

“It’s our aim in the GFM to have all students develop a love of the water and to raise aspirations for all by developing opportunities which enable great success through their potential future destinations.”

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Innovative curriculum is a hit with employers STUDENTS at GFM schools are at an advantage when securing apprenticeships with top international employers thanks to the Trust’s innovative curriculum.

That is the verdict of Airbus manager Roy Haworth (inset), who says students from the GFM schools are well placed to meet the skills gap across industry sectors.

He praised the GFM’s innovative approach, which he says is helping students develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours employers are seeking.

This means gaining qualifications such as A-Levels and GCSE but also developing character traits such as reliability, resilience and soft skills such as teamwork and communication.

He pointed to the Engineering Habits of Mind programme, pioneered at Gomer Junior School, as an example of how the GFM schools are working in alignment with business. Roy,

who is a member of the GFM’s Business and Education Forum, said: “The leadership at the GFM really listen to what employers are telling them about employability skills.

They want to know what we are looking for.

“What is most pleasing is that the support in developing these skill sets is starting very early, in primary school pupils.

“This means when they come

to leaving education and are looking to move into employment, whether that be with an apprenticeship or graduate routes, they already have developed desirable traits for employers.

“And it is not just in my industry I am hearing this. I have contacts across the sectors and these are the skills we are all looking for. Whereas some schools come with a fixed idea of the support they are looking for, the GFM want it to be a collaboration. This is a huge advantage to their students.”

Andrew’s switch GIVES HELPing hand tO disadvantaged students ENGINEERING firm Itrack Global partnered with the GFM to put people above profit by making lifesaving PPE equipment for key workers across the UK. The firm supplied more than 16,500 face shields to 180 organisations, including hospitals, care homes, GP surgeries and emergency responders.

Their factory in Lee-on-Solent swiftly switched production to answer the call to support the NHS in the national fight against coronavirus.

Using 3D printing technology, director Andrew Barnett carefully created a lightweight and adjustable design that allows frontline staff to wear the equipment in comfort.

Some of the profit from the sale of the equipment is being put towards computer equipment for students from disadvantaged backgrounds in Gosport.

Andrew has also teamed up with the Gosport and Fareham Multi Academy Trust to create Dare to Dream, to supply Chromebook computers and internet connections for youngsters across the town.

Andrew said: “When production ground to a halt at one of my technology businesses, I knew it was time for action. I returned to my mantra “innovate, design and engineer”.

“We could not do ventilators, so we decided on making face shields. At the time, it was just me. I designed it, threw it at the 3D printer and then we got it into production.

“We completely re-engineered them from scratch, to make it more comfortable for

frontline staff to wear for up to 24 hours. We sent them absolutely everywhere.

“Hospitals across the county, GP surgeries, care homes and now primary schools. It started local but now we are sending stuff up to Derby. It took off so quickly.

“It is also hugely pleasing that we have been able to take some of the profits from this work and put it towards supporting the young people of Gosport. Executive Trust Leader for Personal Development and

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Community Endeavour at the GFM, Chris Willis, said: “We are very grateful for the huge support we have received from business and organisations for our Community Curriculum provision in our secondary schools and throughout this crisis.

“A big thank you must go to Andrew for his very generous, philanthropic support of the disadvantaged students of this town.

This will help us ensure no student is left behind.”

Right move: Beth Ingham (left) showed students around the Airbus headquarters

Beth’s career path has proved a perfect choice FORMER Brune Park student Beth Ingham believes working at Airbus as an apprentice was the best decision she has ever made.

Beth has been earning a wage while continuing her education with the aerospace multinational, learning different areas of the business.

She completed a BTEC diploma in Electrical Engineering at Fareham College’s CEMAST campus and has spent the last year on work placements at Airbus HQ in Portsmouth.

About to enter her final year before she starts applying for jobs, Beth says for her an apprenticeship was the right choice.

She said: “There are some students for which the traditional path of sixth form and

Former student thriving then university just does not fit.

“I am much happier with practical, hands-on things and do not do well with exams. We are all different so it makes sense that there should be different options available to us when we leave school.

“Brune Park were incredibly because their focus is on what do you want to do that makes you happy, what career can you have where you will enjoy going to work.

“That is what I have at Airbus and I absolutely love it here.

“I still have a few more placements to go so I have not decided fully on what I want

to apply for but I know that I am in the right industry,” Airbus manager Roy Haworth is full of praise for Beth. He said: “Beth is the perfect example of a young person who, through her education, has developed the types of characteristic and skills that can be of huge benefit to an organisation.

“During the lockdown she has been working on all kinds of weird and wonderful projects and because she had the right grounding at school, was able to turn her hand to them with relative ease.”

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how you can help to inspire the next generation

THE GFM are looking for ex-students to support our Gosport Futures programme.

That could include talking to current students about your career paths or working as mentors.

If you interested in helping us inspire the next generation of young people

please join our LinkedIn group: https:// www.linkedin.com/groups/12363663/ Once you have joined, we encourage you to write a short career bio including your current role.

Alternatively, please email: alumni@ gfmat.org

Television star helps to pass on business skills THE GFM is bringing the boardroom to the classroom after launching a partnership with Dragon’s Den star Peter Jones.

The Peter Jones Enterprise Academy aims to encourage, educate and empower young people to become the business leaders of tomorrow.

The courses aim to equip young people with the practical skills and experience needed to excel in the working world.

The Peter Jones Enterprise Academy was founded in 2016 and works with more than 450 schools.

It has given £500,000 of funding to allow more than 10,000 students to start their first business.

GFM students were tasked with setting up their own business as part of the programme’s Young Tycoon challenge.

Teacher Ms Bell, who supervised the teams during the challenge, said: “The Tycoon competition gave the students a great opportunity to get a feel of what it would be like to run their own business and for them to gain some hands-on experience.

“For many of them, it allowed them to realise that they could potentially run their own businesses in the future and gave them

the confidence to know what they would need to do.

“I believe that this course really complimented and enriched the students’ learning and gave them the chance to take some ownership over a project of their choice.”

GFM Raising Aspirations leader, Ms Barwick, led the Young Tycoon project with Rowner Junior School.

She said: “Rowner Junior School really loved this project – the creativity, real-life skills and power to play with their own businesses is such a wonderful thing to nurture and watch grow.

“Unfortunately, Secret Scents didn’t get the chance to be fully operational due to Covid but they will be back when they are able!”

Mr Jones (left) said: “I believe all young people deserve a bright future and I started the foundation with a clear goal – to improve young people’s lives.

“Good enterprise education is an essential element of this and should be part of all schools.”

Schools participate in maritime event THE GFM celebrated Maritime Week UK by hosting maritime-themed assemblies and tutor group sessions.

Students took part in classes linked to maritime careers while participating in virtual events run by Maritime UK. Patron of the GFM’s maritime and marine curriculum, yachtsman Alex Thomson, took time out from preparation for the Vendée Globe to add his support to the programme of events.

Mr Thomson said: “It’s a great privilege for me to be working with the Gosport and Fareham Multi Academy Trust.

“It’s through initiatives like this that we can inspire young people to progress into the marine and maritime industry, helping to fill that skills shortage and give young people the chance to really

thrive in an industry that has so much to offer.

“Of course, with the Vendée Globe less than a month away, I unfortunately won’t be able to contribute to the virtual events being hosted by the GFM for Maritime Week, but I wish them the best of luck and I look forward to hearing all about it when I’m back on dry land!”

Executive Trust Leader at the GFM, Chris Willis, said: “Maritime Week provides the perfect opportunity to focus on the many career opportunities

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offered within the marine and maritime sector across Gosport and the surrounding areas.

“With the support of our patron Alex Thomson, we are building a skill-based marine and maritime programme into our school curriculum “We feel now more than ever is the time to invest in the future of our young people by equipping them with the skills to take up exciting careers on and off the water.

“In contrast to many other sectors where employment opportunities are declining, there is an ever-growing skills shortage in the marine and maritime sector.”

Maritime UK Week 2020 combined virtual and physical events, and took place across the country in October.

Boxes of cheer for children in need THE GFM and Gosport Rotary Club teamed up to spread festive cheer by sending gifts to underprivileged children in Eastern Europe.

Year 8s have created shoeboxes packed full of small presents as part of their personal development lessons. They were supported by Year 11 prefects.

Simon Mason and Ray Drake from the Gosport Rotary Club visited the school to collect the shoeboxes which they will pass on to the children before Christmas.

Adam inspires with key careers advice STUDENTS were given an insight into inspirational careers of former students during weekly online webinars throughout lockdown.

The school closures did not stop the GFM careers team from providing high-quality resources to students, including a weekly Q&A session with former students.

Among those to take part was former Brune Park and Bay House student Adam Greenslade, now a strength and conditioning coach for top rugby union club Leicester Tigers.

The 26-year-old left Brune Park in 2010 to take A-Levels in Biology, PE and Geography at Bay House before studying for a degree in Sports Science at Leeds University.

A stint at Southampton Football Club, followed by a graduate position at sports specialist prep school Millfield in Somerset, was the launchpad for his dream job.

Adam (right), who played rugby at county level, now works with the Gallagher Premiership club’s academy players on all areas of strength and conditioning.

Adam took part in the hugely successful webinar series, broadcasted to students via Zoom, during the school closures.

Adam said: “It was a huge privilege to be

able to talk to students at my former schools and give them some advice about their futures.

“I told them that becoming involved and working with a professional sports club is a hugely competitive job and a degree in Sports Science is the bare minimum.”

Ms Murchie, who has been organising the Zoom webinars, said: “Our careers provision for the summer term didn’t pan out as anticipated, but we have continued to provide robust support throughout this time.

“The messages that they gave around the choices they made and their journeys were very powerful.” n OTHER careers provision provided to students during the lockdown included access to careers resources website Unifrog for Year 7 and 8 students.

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NAvy gives £20k for computers

THE Royal Navy and Radian Homes both helped fund Chromebooks for learners during lockdown.

The Navy kindly donated £20,000 to the GFM, which was used to buy the computers for learners who did not have access to technology at home while the schools were closed.

The Royal Navy is also funding a £300,000 Community Hub, which will be housed in

the site of a Brune Park Community School.

GFM Executive Leader, Chris Willis, said: “A big thanks to the Royal Navy for their continued support of the GFM.”

All smiles: Students enjoying learning outside the classroom

Learners engage with community and culture Students once again took their learning outside the classroom as part of the GFM’s emerging Community Curriculum, aimed at unlocking potential for Gosport learners and their futures across the town.

More than 700 pupils from Year 7 at Bay House and Brune Park embarked on a day of activities in January across thetown.

Highlights included a water safety and life-saving skills presentation and practical session from the RNLI, and a treasure hunt at Fort Brockhurst, provided by local English Heritage volunteers.

Students also worked with local community organisations to support a Social Action activity across Stanley Park.

There was also a ‘live’ Ready, Steady, Cook-style cooking demo from Aramark Catering and Dropping Everything and Reading literacy sessions.

The GFM’s Community Curriculum is a project working in partnership with local business and community organisations to offer students opportunities that will help boost

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confidence, resilience and aspirations for their futures. Executive Lead, Chris Willis, said: “It was an exceptional day for our schools and community.

Via our Community Curriculum, students are able to engage with the community organisations, businesses, culture and heritage of our town.

“The event was the perfect example of our schools working in harmony with the rich resources available in Gosport to help unlock the wonderful potential of our young people.”

BUSINESS PROFILES

Building a network of relationships to prepare students for the workplace Name: Sara Heaysman Experience: Long career with IBM in both technical and sales roles, with much experience of employing young people as they came out of the education system, which has led to my desire to work with the GFM to raise the preparedness of their students for the workplace.

Title at GFM: Careers Leader Role in the GFM: Leading the careers team, responsible for delivering the strategy through our careers programme and for building relationships with employers to ensure we are meeting their needs.

Benefits for students of working with local employers: Our intent is to build a pipeline of engaged students who have the skills and knowledge to allow them to make informed career choices, with positive outcomes for both themselves and prospective employers. We are very grateful to our employer network for their help in providing a huge range of support,

from speakers and mentors through to events, experiences and learning content, which all helps build awareness of and engagement with the world of work.

Greatest success story: I was particularly proud of how the team worked together during lockdown to maintain focus on careers, producing a great programme of online material, including mentoring, alumni talks and the delivery of a World of Work programme for Year 10 to replace traditional work experience. The knowledge gained will help us as we drive our programme forward in a world where face

to face careers experiences may not be possible for some time.

What makes the GFM unique: Our strategy is to embed careers awareness and the development of key skills at the heart of the curriculum across the schools so that this is no longer an ‘add on’ but a fundamental part of a pupil’s experience. By engaging so closely with our employer network we can bring the strategy to life for our students and their families.

Why should employers work with GFM: By being part of our network, employers can contribute to the shaping of the future workforce for our area. We know from our discussions that many local employers struggle to fill positions – by raising their profile with students (and their parents and carers), we can begin to address this. I also know that their employees find it rewarding to support our events and share their experience and skills.

How BAE works with local schools to encourage children to aim high Name: Viv Hine Organisation: BAE Systems, Maritime Services Job title: Education and Early Careers Manager What is your relationship with the GFM? Sitting on business forums, organising work experience, etc. I represent BAE Systems on the GFM Business and Education Forum. In addition, I also receive requests for support from the GFM for in-school activities, identify suitable volunteers from among our registered STEM Ambassadors (of whom there are more than 100 in the Portsmouth/ Gosport area) and equip them with the information and resources they need to support GFM students and their parents.

How has it benefited BAE working closely with a group of local schools?

It has enabled us to get a thorough understanding of the needs of the GFM schools and the changing nature of education more broadly and to ensure that our Education Outreach strategy remains relevant and appropriate. It has given us the opportunity to promote participation in STEM subjects to children of all ages and to encourage those students to aim high and aspire to a career in engineering. It has also allowed us to access parents and carers through our attendance at Parents Evenings

and Options Evenings.

Parents are the most important influencers on children’s career choices and are usually very difficult for us to reach.

By being able to attend these events we have a unique opportunity to have discussions with parents about the amazing apprenticeship and graduate programmes that we have at BAE Systems.

What is the greatest success story of the partnership between the GFM and BAE? I am particularly proud that BAE Systems was one of the first employers to provide sponsorship for the development of the Gosport STEM Centre. This is a fantastic resource, not just for the use of GFM students but for the whole of the community. The Centre has allowed BAE Systems and other employers to reach many more students than ever before in encouraging a passion for STEM and developing an interest in the associated careers.

What advice would you give organisations thinking of working with schools?

I would advise other organisations to start with a business case to get a thorough understanding of what they want to achieve through working with schools, as this will determine the nature of the programme of support to be offered. Most importantly, I would recommend leveraging the talents and enthusiasm of employees by encouraging their involvement. Not only will young people benefit greatly from their participation but the employees will also gain new skills and the personal satisfaction of doing something very worthwhile.

What advice would you give education leaders working with large organisations?

I would advise education leaders to identify a point of contact within the organisation that can act as a channel for all communications. Early and detailed requests for support will enable closer matching of resource and incorporation into education outreach programmes which, in normal times, can fill up very quickly. These things work both ways which is why the GFM is such a valued partner allowing us to communicate efficiently with a range of schools.

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Amy gives valuable insight into the world of finance STUDENTS were given a fascinating insight into a career in the world of finance from an associate at the global accountancy firm, PriceWaterhouseCooper.

Former GFM pupil Amy MacRobbie discussed university pathways, CV writing, interview techniques and work experience with Year 11 students.

Aspirational Pathways Lead, Ms Barwick, said: “It really was a privilege to welcome

Amy MacRobbie from PWC, who talked to students who have shown an interest in working in the finance industry.

“Amy talked the students through alternative routes into this area to university and then through what a day in this industry looks like.”

She added: “The students really engaged with Amy and seemed to take a lot from the talk.”

WHY NOT FOLLOW US ON TWITTER? Follow the GFM on Twitter @GF_MAT for the latest updates from the Trust.

Mentoring scheme helped students link up with professionals during lockdown GOSPORT students got careers and education pathway support and advice from top professionals thanks to an innovative digital one-to-one mentoring scheme.

The GFM teamed up with Brightside Mentoring to offer Lower Sixth students at Bay House guidance during the coronavirus lockdown.

The 20 students who took part were able to exchange messages with their assigned mentor via the company’s online platform.

The partnership is aimed at helping students make informed decisions about

career choices and university as they enter their final year at Sixth Form.

GFM Careers Lead, Sara Heaysman, said: “We were delighted to offer this programme through our partnership with Brightside and it was great to see so many students step forward to take up the mentoring.

“The level of engagement was really high, with some conversations running on through the summer holidays, showing the value that students put on the opportunity.”

Brightside school partnership lead Chris

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Mattinson said: “Our mentors are able to offer bespoke education and career guidance to students. Our mentors tend to be in their 20s or 30s, which means they were in the same or similar position to the students they are supporting not all that long ago.

“It is a joy to work with the GFM because they have sought to integrate mentoring and careers support into their curriculum.

“It may seem straightforward to work with industry to help shape the curriculum but the approach the GFM takes is truly innovative.”