The Berkshire Careers Hub recently facilitated another successful Teacher Encounters event, as part of their mission to bring together education and industry in a meaningful way. Nine Berkshire teachers, accompanied by our Careers and Enterprise Coordinator, Ray McGroarty, participated in this transformative program designed to strengthen the connection between curriculum and careers through industry partnerships.
The Teacher Encounters program offers multiple benefits. Teachers gain confidence in understanding sector trends, develop deeper knowledge of career pathways, build industry relationships and create more impactful employer encounters by adding real-world context to their teaching, as well as learn strategies for embedding careers in the curriculum. For employers, The Teacher Encounters programme helps to boost their profile among future talent pools and creates an opportunity to influence curriculum development for better-prepared future employees. Employee participation in outreach activities strengthens both engagement and recruitment. Employer involvement with Teacher Encounters enhances their community presence and drives interest in technical training.
We had the pleasure of hosting a group of dedicated school and college teachers at our Mars factory in Slough. They delved into our exceptional apprenticeship programs and career pathways, gaining insights into our recruitment procedures and experiencing the practical side of our selection process. Our goal was to demystify misconceptions surrounding apprenticeships, equip them with the necessary knowledge to guide their students, and showcase the opportunities in STEM at Mars. — Gita Bhanderi, Apprenticeships Program Manager, Mars.
The day at Mars Wrigley’s Slough facility began at 9:15 AM with introductions, followed by an informative session about Mars brands and the history of Mars Wrigley Slough, including details about their supply apprenticeships and the role of Early Talent within the organisation. After a short mid-morning break, the group engaged in assessment centre activities before breaking for lunch at noon.
The afternoon kicked off with insights into Mars’ hiring process, including a discussion with an interview panel about assessment criteria. A highlight of the day was meeting the team of young apprentices who took time from their busy manufacturing operations schedules to share their experiences and career pathways into the sector. Their firsthand insights provided invaluable perspective for understanding the opportunities available to young people in manufacturing. For the remainder of the afternoon, the group embarked on an extensive two-hour factory tour. The day concluded with a final feedback and closing session, giving everyone a chance to reflect on their experiences throughout the comprehensive visit.
At Mars, we are committed to nurturing talent across all levels. It was truly rewarding to demonstrate first-hand how apprenticeships can serve as a gateway to a rewarding career within a global organisation. We take pride in playing a role in shaping the future workforce, aiding in the development of the next generation of talent. Here’s to empowering teachers to inspire students to pursue their passions and unlock their full potential! — Gita Bhanderi, Apprenticeships Program Manager, Mars.
The impact of the day was evident in the feedback and energetic engagement from participants.
Thank you Gita Bhanderi, Dean Clark and Donna Payne for supporting Teachers and Careers Leads in showering us with a wealth of knowledge on employment opportunities with Mars. Trust me when I say, I was totally blown away seeing behind the scenes of Mars. AMAZING! — Linda Derby , Careers Adviser, Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA).
The Berkshire Careers Hub would like to express their gratitude to the Mars team for orchestrating such an impactful event and to the teachers who made time in their busy schedules to attend.
The benefits of these encounters are well-documented, with national statistics showing that 91% of teachers report improved confidence in having careers-related conversations with their students, and 97% of employers saying it helped them explain their future skills needs to teachers and young people. This represents a significant win-win situation, and Berkshire Careers Hub remains committed to engaging more Berkshire employers in this valuable program.
It is so pleasing to see an organisation of the stature of Mars step up to provide a comprehensive Teachers Encounter like this. The insight into all that goes together to make a world class manufacturing operation I think is invaluable, allowing teachers to see first-hand how their subject and the personal development they provide can help make young people ready for the world of work, and help answer that perennial question – ‘why are we learning this?’ — Ray McGroarty, Careers and Enterprise Co-ordinator, Berkshire Careers Hub.
If you are a schools Careers Leader and want to engage school colleagues and embed careers into the curriculum, get in touch with Berkshire Careers Hub about our Teacher Encounters Programme.
We would love to hear from you!
