Foundation event helps guide youngsters

Foundation event helps guide youngsters

As part of National Apprenticeship week, the Chelsea Foundation hosted an event in partnership with Love Local Jobs and West London College last Thursday to help inspire local communities and raise career aspirations for young people.

Held at Stamford Bridge, industry leading speakers discussed all things from strengthening local employer brands, understanding apprenticeships and developing new and existing staff at the event.

During the event, five Chelsea Foundation apprentices also took centre stage as they took part in a Q&A session to speak about their experiences and how the apprenticeship scheme has benefited them.

Head of education Matt Mead said: ‘It was fantastic to help support the launch of Love Local Jobs in West London and their shared mission with ours, to provide aspirational pathways for young Londoners to feel inspired and ready to enter the workplace.

‘Through our own work in careers education, our foundation degree and FE College provision, we are proud to support the local community and hopefully inspire other employers and key stake holders locally to offer that first chance to a young person.

‘It was great to see so many socially minded employers join us, Love Local Jobs and West London College in making a commitment to raise aspirations in West London and ensure young people get the best advice and opportunity to access apprenticeships, work experience and ultimately, their first job.’

One of those present on the panel for the Q&A session was Rihat Draga who started his Accountancy apprenticeship with the Foundation in January.

He said: ‘It’s been great, I feel so privileged and I’m looking forward to working for the Chelsea Foundation for the next 14 months. From September to January we were doing employability lessons with the help of the Foundation and West London College where I was doing my Level 2 in Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and from there we had a few speed interviews with employers and recruiters.’

‘Through that I ended up getting a second interview with Chelsea and I ended up getting accepted. I took the job straight away because I really didn’t think I was going to get it! I can be myself, I can ask any sort of questions about anything I feel I need help with so I’m really fortunate to be working where I am.’

‘They are really supportive with everything I do, whether it’s college, my home life or how I’m doing with my Level 3 AAT which I’ve just started. They are always checking in with me which is really valuable for someone at my age – especially as people are at university – I didn’t feel university was the path for me and I doubt they are getting the support that I am getting.’