Employability Award backed by local training and recruitment businesses

Two Pendle businesses have lent their support to an exciting new initiative set up by Pendle’s high schools aimed at making school leavers more employable.

Ashberry Recruitment and TrainingStation are supporting the Employability Award, which is designed to recognise the efforts students put into extra curricular activities alongside their academic qualifications.

All six Pendle schools have committed to the launch year of the Employability Award, with more than half of pupils achieving a Gold, Silver or Bronze award this year.

Students who successfully complete charity and community work, have outstanding attendance and effort levels, work on a business project and attend CV building sessions and mock business interviews will be presented with a Gold, Silver or Bronze Employability Award at the end of the academic year.

Pendle Youth MP Jack Cooke, who explained the benefits of the award to Ashberry Recruitment and TrainingStation, said: “I am really excited to be involved in the first year of the Employability Award.

“I know that if I am going to have a successful career in politics, I need to work hard outside of the classroom to gain work experience, skills and contacts which employers are looking for.

“The Employability Award is designed to help students stand out from the competition when applying for jobs, so it is really important that we have the support of businesses like Ashberry Recruitment and TrainingStation.”

TrainingStation Director Lisa Whiteoak said: “Many of the young people we place in Apprenticeships have no experience of interview situations or producing a CV which employers will want to read.

“This is something we work hard to educate them on, so it is fantastic that the Pendle schools are now rewarding students who put the effort into their future careers whilst they are still at school.”

Vicky Ellis, who looks after East Lancashire recruitment for Ashberry, added: “I am really excited by the Employability Award and will be looking out for CVs in the future which mention it.

“It will be fantastic for me to say to an employer that the people I am sending for interview boast a Gold Employability Award. This will be an indication immediately that the potential employee is hard-working, dedicated and an excellent long term prospect for the company.”