Employers & Alumni 

The government’s careers strategy, has at its heart four themes, the first of which is ensuring a ‘high-quality careers programme’ in all schools and colleges. This is to be achieved via the eight Gatsby benchmarks, each of which relate to an area of school activity, and define excellence in that area:

1. A stable careers programme

2. Learning from career and labour market information

3. Addressing the needs of each pupil

4. Linking curriculum learning to careers

5. Encounters with employers and employees

6. Experiences of workplaces

7. Encounters with further and higher education

8. Personal guidance

The first six benchmarks can, in some way, be achieved by input by employers and businesses. Other parts of the strategy include making employers an integral part of the guidance strategy, ensuring people can benefit from tailored support (i.e. individual careers guidance and mentoring, for example, by an employer) and making the most of labour market information. You can see from above that employers will play a huge part in schools achieving the eight benchmarks and sustaining a world class careers programme.

How can employers get involved?

Please contactKimberley Pixton at kimberley.pixton@newbridgegroup.org for further information on how you and your business can link to Samuel Laycock.

Below are some of these activities and experiences that employers could offer:

At school:

• assemblies and talks
• careers ‘speed dating’ events
• small group focus sessions/mentoring
• practice interviews
• projects and challenges in related subjects

In the work place:

• work place safaris and visits (site tours)
• talks from employees about world of work and career pathways
• team building exercises and work–related challenges

Who do Samuel Laycock currently partner with?

• Royal Exchange Theatre
• Oldham Coliseum
• Cornerstone
• Bella Italia
• Uniformed Services
• AMEY construction firm
• Department for Work & Pensions
• Gregg Smith – TV Camera Man
• National Youth Theatre
• Anne Frank Trust
• Palace Theatre
• Hope Mill Theatre
• Lung Theatre company
• Ashton Fencing Club
• Manchester Top Team MMA
• Sale Sharks
• Active Tameside
• Collyhurst & Moston Boxing Club
• Salford Water Sports Centre
• Sharp Digital
• Tameside College Bakery
• Simon Dunne Chocolatier
• Debdale Community Allotment
• RHS Bridgewater Gardens
• Stamford Care Home
• Shepherdess
• National Trust 

How can past pupils join the Alumni?

To complement our programme of employer engagement encounters, we also invite ex-pupils back to Samuel Laycock to talk about their careers. We would love to hold on to our links to past pupils.

Please contact kimberley.pixton@newbridgegroup.org. As a start please tell us what year you left, your next step after year 11 and what your current job is.