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Copleston High School

Employers

If you are a local employer, please get in touch to discuss how we can get you involved in our careers programme.

We want our students to hear from a wide range of sectors and business types, so whether you are a sole trader or work for a national company, there will be students who are inspired by your story.

Currently we welcome employers into our school for our Future Fridays lunchtime talks, class talks, group mentoring, assemblies, employability workshops and our annual employability day.

Please email Jenna Witting jwitting@copleston.suffolk.sch.uk to express an interest

Work experience

Our year 10 students will be taking part in a week of work experience from 19th to 24th June.

We still have students searching for placements, so please get in touch if you would like to offer this valuable experience to one of our students.

Alumni

We would also love to hear from you if you are an ex-pupil. Our students are motivated by hearing from employers who have been in their shoes and who they can relate to. Several of the employers who have been into the school this year are alumni wanting to give back to their school and their local community.

Please email Jenna Witting jwitting@copleston.suffolk.sch.uk to find out more.

Recent employer engagement

Employers who we have recently welcomed into the school for lunchtime talks include; BT, NHS, Ipswich Community Media, Suffolk Police, Care Development East, Seven Resourcing, Cathy Frost from LoveOne, BDO and Cadent Gas. These employers have talked about employment and training pathways within their businesses, many of whom offer their own apprenticeship programmes.

  • The Engineering Development Trust in partnership with Arup delivered a virtual STEM morning to year 7.
  • BT will be launching British Science week for year 8 students.
  • Year 9 students have designed entries for the NHS Step into Schools competition.
  • The British Army recently delivered an assembly and workshop to year 10 students.
  • Our Enterprise Advisers will be running mentoring sessions to support year 10 with their cover letter writing.
  • Year 11 students have had an assembly on how to find an apprenticeship in the local area.
  • Year 12 and 13 business students will be hearing from Gallagher Re’s Foundational Talent Team later in the term.

Online employer engagement

Students are regularly emailed virtual work experience and employment opportunities with companies such as Vodafone, Network Rail, Fujitsu, Barclays, Thames Water, Barclays, Zurich, Bentley, Amazon, Royal Mail, BAE Systems, Land Rover Jaguar, Pwc and Babcock. Law firms such as Clifford Chance and Linklaters joining us as well as internationally recognised firms: Browne Jacobson, Freeths, Farrer & Co, Charles Russell Speechlys and Fragomen.

This opportunities are shared through organisations including Springpod, Young Professionals UK and Speakers for Schools.

The New Anglia Careers Hub

New Anglia Careers Hub - New Anglia

The school benefits from the support of two Enterprise Advisers who volunteer their time to be an extra line of support and help with strategic planning of careers to help make it meaningful to the world of work. Our EA’s are able to pull on their network to help with career days and help operationally as well.

Mike Dawe has a background in digital media and is a consultant in education and communication, primarily overseas. Mike can provide a case study to inspire students. His area of expertise is ‘skills in demand’. Yolanda Achlada’s background is in HR mainly within banking and insurance and she is providing coaching and mentoring for students who would benefit from additional guidance.

Twice weekly, students have the opportunity to view livestream episodes discussing career journeys and different professions with a variety of guests, from the world of work. This programme is facilitated by The New Anglia Enterprise Adviser Network. Students can watch live and pose questions to the guests however all episodes are saved and can be viewed later. The links to these episodes can be found on the IAG section of the school website. 

The New Anglia Enterprise Adviser Network has also recorded a selection of employer interviews covering careers such as cabin crew, financial services, park manager and accounts assistant. If you’d like some careers inspiration, check out the videos!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRnKexbbDeeBNJSfSLLVOWEE1f-4yihy6

New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership’s weekly livestream ‘Careers and Coffee’ discusses career journeys and different professions with a variety of guests, from the world of work.

The episodes can be watched live and you can pose questions to the guests however all episodes are saved and can be viewed later.

https://www.youtube.com/c/NewAngliaLocalEnterprisePartnership/playlists

Please email Jenna Witting jwitting@copleston.suffolk.sch.uk to find out more.