A wide range of employers including Rolls-Royce, RDS Global, Natwest Group, First Response Finance, Lubrizol and Atkins Global connected with nearly 100 full time Computer Science and Digital T Level and T-Connect students through virtual workshops as part of DCG’s commitment to bridge the gap between education and employment.
Workshop sessions, which were also supported by the University of Derby, included career opportunities, work-related English and Maths, transferable skills, workplace behaviours, presentation skills, CV writing and interview skills.
The week finished with virtual mock interviews with a business representative and the T Level students will be putting these skills into practice when they are matched with an employer mentor ahead of their work placements scheduled to start in early 2021.
Eileen Swan, Assistant Principal of Vocational and Technical Education at DCG, explained: “Our Computer Science students have benefited from extensive employer engagement for many years and several of these key businesses have more recently been involved in the co-design and co-delivery of the new T Level programme.
“The employer induction week is designed to inspire students at the outset of their college study programmes to think longer term about their future careers and this is particularly important for the T Level students who will spend at least 20% of their study programme on work placements.
“It clearly establishes in the young people’s minds that the purpose of their time here is to prepare them for the next stage of their lives.
“The sessions particularly highlighted that employability skills such as communication, team work as well as good English and Maths skills are just as important as the IT qualifications that they will be working towards during their time with us.”
