We're delighted to welcome this business, which is already great at investing and offering progression routes to their staff, with apprenticeships from Level 1 to Level 3 on offer. 

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With discussion around staff disability inclusion, work tasters for our participants, sharing of vacancies and the Disability Confident Scheme, this employer is already great at investing and offering progression routes to their staff, with apprenticeships from Level 1 to Level 3 on offer.

We're delighted to welcome on-board John O'Conner Grounds Maintenance to join our network of local supportive employers.

John O'Conner Grounds Maintenance Ltd

Part of the Step2Skills employer network

We were so pleased to have Ayesha, from our community partner, Step2Skills, share her expertise in supporting children through their SATs exams, both academically and emotionally, to Year 5 and 6 parents in April. 

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This was part of the Government’s Multiply programme for adult learners, that has been very successful over the past two years at Laurance Haines. Her advice and support were invaluable in helping parents to support their child to achieve to the best of their abilities.

Ayesha provided guidance on how SATs work, what the questions may look life and what is expected from the children. This gave parents better understanding of what their child will experience during the week of the tests. Knowing what to expect can greatly reduce anxiety and boost confidence in the run-up to the SATs.

In addition to practical advice, Ayesha gave insights on managing emotions on the day of the tests. Even though at Laurance Haines we prioritise the children’s wellbeing, SATs can be a worrying time for some children, so it’s important to have strategies to help them stay calm and focused.

Nicola Furey, Pastoral Lead at Laurance Haines School, Watford, 2024

Laurance Haines school, Watford

Step2Skills community partner

"The more diversity in our industry the better and more creative it will be."

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Thank you to Anne and the committed and hard working educationalists at Step2Skills who invited me along to their meeting last week to share my thoughts.

There's a lot of great work going on out there around skills, particularly in the creative industries, but it's often aimed at those starting out in their careers. My career has definitely been of the 'portfolio' variety (Zoology degree, lab work, journalist, internal comms, event manager, consultant, business owner) and I know a lot of others who have done the same. I was lucky to have had opportunities along the way to learn and improve - largely thanks to others and what they saw in me.

Supporting adults learners to upskill or change careers with transferable skills is a small way to pay some of that on.

Plus it's good for business - the more diversity in our industry the better and more creative it will be.

Abby

Director at Insight MCL