The Community Housing Group (TCHG) was pleased to welcome 73 students from Baxter College,  Kidderminster  to the official launch of the Business Class Partnership between Baxter College and TCHG on Monday 10 February. 

The event enabled the students to find more out about the company as an employer and to understand about the different types of services that are available. 

Following a short introduction, they were divided into smaller groups and spent time talking to members of staff from different areas of the business: Care&Support24, Oakleaf Commercial Services, Business Support services including Finance, IT and Marketing, Vestia Training and Human Resources and Housing Management. 

For each business area, essential information was displayed such as entry qualifications and the key skills required.  Each of the 16 employees and apprentices were able to discuss their role within the company, their skills and career opportunities, as well as the apprentice scheme available within TCHG. 

Business Class is a government-endorsed programme run by Business in the Community (BITC), which provides a systematic framework for business to support young people facing social disadvantage by forming long-term partnerships with the schools.  Each school will be partnered with a business which will support it over a minimum three year period.

Dave Hughes, Regional Education Manager, BITC said: “this event is a great example of how business and education can work closely together and help young people to make positive and informed choices about their future careers.  The students were really keen to find out more about the work of The Community Housing Group and spent time talking to staff and some of the apprentices about different opportunities available to them.  Many had never thought about apprenticeships but now are giving them serious consideration”

Marina Banner, Executive Director, Vestia and Corporate Services TCHG, commented: “This was an extremely successful event. It gave us the opportunity to speak to teachers and young people, to explain more about the organisation, the services we provide, as well as the different roles and apprenticeships available to them.  It was great to see these young people gaining from this experience and over the next few months, we plan to agree a series of activities and events to cement our partnership and share our mutual expertise to prepare the students for the world of work.”

One student said: “It helped me with what I might pick for my options. When I got to the care and support stand, it helped me because I want to work with the elderly.  They talked about what is needed to become a care and support worker so the information they gave me was interesting and helpful.”