News

While most teenagers may be enjoying the Easter holidays, 20 students from across the Midlands headed to Severn Trent’s Coventry HQ to take part in its work and employability experiences programme.

Designed for students aged between 16 and 17 and living in low social mobility areas in the areas it serves, the FTSE 100 company designed the scheme to help the students develop and ready themselves for the world of work for when they leave school.

Work experience co-ordinator at Severn Trent, Meena Bargota said: “Programmes like this are so worthwhile, and will really give these students valuable skills and talents they can use in later life, as well getting an insight into what we have on offer at Severn Trent, should they choose to begin their career with us.”

The students are all recommended by the Social Mobility Foundation, an organisation that aims to make practical improvements in the lives of young people from low-income backgrounds,Severn Trent ran the three day programme over two weeks for two groups, with students attending from Coventry, Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

The programme consisted of:

• Employability training;

• Apprentice and graduate insights;

• Technology and innovation at Severn Trent;

• Presenting skills;

• Problem solving;

• CV, application and interview training; and

• Dragon’s Den challenge.

“The work experience went really well, with all the students successfully completing the course leaving us feeling confident having learned new skills,” adds Meena. “It’s really important that everyone feels they have the same opportunities as others, so we hope this experience will help students go on and be successful, and even become future leaders, in whatever career path they choose.”

Hita Patel, work experience student said: “This programme was not what I expected, it was a lot more fun and interesting, especially the interactive sessions and it has really opened my eyes to what is available at Severn Trent. 

“My perception has changed, now knowing about the different routes in and variety of roles Severn Trent offer. I will be researching into apprenticeships more after this.”

Student, Marwa Fakir also added:  “I’m grateful for the beneficial skills I have learned and developed through the work and employability scheme with Severn Trent. This includes problem solving skills with the water challenge activity, analytical and organisation skills that I developed in the dragons den session, and meeting various employees from different backgrounds which enabled me to have a greater insight at jobs available in the industry and business environment. I also learned about the biochemical aspect and renewable energy processes implemented in the business, which was very interesting.”

Severn Trent is the only water company named in the Social Mobility Index which recognises companies working to improve social mobility, and has also signed up to the Social Mobility Pledge