Our spring Career Workshops empower students with real-world business insights

The Career Workshops, led by local business experts, were the highlight of the term. These interactive sessions covered various aspects of the business world, providing students with practical insights and inspiration from employers, including Better, Seer Bi, Casper Shipping, and NRL Recruitment. The workshops gave students insight into business areas ranging from marketing and branding to sustainability, entrepreneurship, and teamwork, helping students to explore varying sectors, job roles and career opportunities.

One of the biggest barriers to employment for young people is a lack of connections. These programmes gave students, many for the first time, an opportunity to connect directly with local employers. All of our programmes are designed to help improve awareness of the region’s diverse opportunities, inform students about career choices, and ignite a spark of confidence and ambition in the students as they move through secondary school. By interacting with people who have been through similar journeys and experiences, students start to see that anything is possible, no matter their background or circumstances.

It’s not only the students who benefit from these programmes. We often see the advantages are significant for the businesses involved and this term’s programmes reinforced this. Working alongside the High Tide team, the businesses demonstrated their commitment to the community and their investment in Tees Valley’s future workforce. It served as a chance to inspire the next generation, share their expertise, and highlight the career paths within their different companies and sectors. Engaging with these programmes also allowed the businesses to connect with potential future employees, understand the aspirations and interests of young people, and shape a more skilled and motivated talent pool in the region.

Mark Easby, Managing Director of Better, based in Middlesbrough, said:

“We love getting involved with High Tide’s programmes. The creative and digital sector in Tees Valley is booming, and our businesses are all going to need a strong pipeline of young people to support the growth of our sector.”

Mark continues, “Many of the students don’t understand the number of local opportunities, so it’s really important to engage with students directly, share career journeys with them and let them see first-hand all the opportunities around them”.

We know that a lack of awareness of opportunities and exposure to employers can limit young people’s aspirations and potential, creating a gap between education and the world of work. Real-world work experiences can transform the lives of young people, helping to raise aspirations, unlock potential and create meaningful connections between students and local employers.

A secondary school student who experienced one of our programmes commented:

“The experience has increased my ambition and motivated me to pursue my career. Thanks to meeting a variety of people, I am now reassured that despite your background, as long as you’re hard-working, you can succeed in your career.”

We’d like to give a big shout out to all the businesses involved in delivering the programmes, and we’re always on the lookout for more businesses of all sizes and sectors to get involved. Whether through our in-school workshops or hosting a workplace visit, it’s easy to get involved, and we’ll provide all the support you need to get started.

If you are interested in getting involved with High Tide, please contact Lauren at lauren@hightidefoundation.co.uk or visit our contact page.

More about our Programmes