BWM supports Founders4Schools

At BW Medical, we pride ourselves on our work in the local community. Though we serve clients from all over England, the North East is hugely important to us; Newcastle’s friendly sense of togetherness has massively informed the way in which we conduct ourselves, and we therefore find it incredibly important to give back where we can.

Our partnership with local charity Wag and Company has seen us embark on a number of fundraising drives – such as our Coast2Coast cycle and sponsored walks, whilst our Practice Administrator Becky has volunteered for Percy Hedley Foundation over a number of years.

Another way we try to give back is through our participation with Founders4Schools, an award-winning charity that helps bridge the gap between education and the world of work. Founders4Schools (F4S) are responsible for connecting students with a network of volunteers, who share their stories and offer advice about their industry, in order to provide students with all the information they need to explore a career.

Given how niche our focus is at BW Medical, many students – and even teachers – will be unaware of the routes into our industry, from the necessary qualifications required to gaining relevant experience to find a role.

Thanks to our partnership with F4S, however, we can provide the required information first-hand. Rachael Sellers, our Head of Marketing and Business Development, is a volunteer with F4S, having attended Newcastle College to provide students with the information they need to succeed.

Rachael carried out a series of mock interviews with students at Newcastle College, where she helped students become more familiar with common interview formats and helped improve their confidence.  Having coached students through a range of mock interviews, Rachael provided further information and feedback on how the students could improve their interview technique to find employment within our industry.

Rachael said:

“F4S is a great initiative to support – I’m able to support students whilst also taking time out of my ‘day-job’ to reflect and learn from others.  I was alarmed by the amount of pressure students feel and the coping mechanisms they voluntarily discussed they had in place for stress. There’s a big shift change since I was a student. Peer pressure, academic pressures and socioeconomic pressures are prevalent. It certainly made me consider how we can nurture and support the next generation to be become more resilient.”

“I hope my advice at least made the students I engaged with realise that it’s important to get the basics right – smile, make eye contact, engage with who you are talking to. Academic qualifications are important but top marks don’t always equate to the best opportunities – it’s important to enjoy what you do, be rounded in your approach and don’t be afraid to let your individual personalities shine. Engagement is key!”

To inspire students and increase youth employability, you can sign up free. Join Founders4Schools (F4S) to indicate that you’re happy to be invited by educators to inspire their students, to speak at F4S events, or that you’re open to young people applying for work experience at your company.

• Feel the reward of inspiring young people about the world of work
• Student-employer encounters are proven to increase youth employability by 86%
• Meet a network of socially-minded business role models in your community
• Help close the skills gap - CBI perceive this as the number one threat to UK economic growth
• Get the next generation interested in your company, industry or your profession
• Build your talent pipeline for your company and enrichen your CSR programme

Sign up via LinkedIn to start inspiring the next generation.