Town teens '˜graduate' as fit for work

Students from Hartlepool Sixth Form College took part in the Career Ready scheme, which links employers with schools and colleges to inspire 16-18-year-olds.

And, the students who passed the Career Ready programme took part in a ‘graduate event’, which was organised by Gradvert, a training and graduate recruitment firm, as a reward for their hard work.

Students had the chance to take part in workshops to help map out future careers and were also presented with certificates.

Michaela Reaney, Gradvert managing director and one of a number of Career Ready business mentors, said the event was a great chance for students to reflect on all that they had achieved during the programme.

She said: “Career Ready has given so many young people the chance to learn more about the world of work and has inspired them, showing the vast and varied career pathways available to them when they leave education.”

One of the Hartlepool students, Emily Crosby, 18, said: “The programme has been really good. My chosen career path is to study law, but the time I spent with businesses as part of this programme has made me see that I want to move into a different area of law than I had originally planned.

“It’s been great to be part of the Career Ready programme. Everyone has been so lovely, and I have really enjoyed it.”

Through the programme the teens even visited London to learn more about the job opportunities there.