AvTrade
Avtrade is the world’s largest independent aviation component services supplier. With its global headquarters in Sayers Common, a short distance from the school, the company is well-placed to offer regular work placements to students.
A specially devised six-week programme offers LVS Hassocks’ students two hours work experience every Wednesday, with the students getting the chance to learn about the family-run, global business, while gaining invaluable experience within the various departments.
“It was so lovely seeing the students interact with new adults, trying different tasks and learning new skills – doing it all at their own pace.” Louise Parrish, Lead Learning Support Assistant at LVS Hassocks
Miranda Brown, Avtrade’s Recruitment Executive, explains: “The programme works really well. The students get a good mix of hands on experience, while also learning about the business. They get involved with things like data inputting and have even been involved in making social media videos around the site. I’ve also taken the opportunity to talk to them about recruitment and employment skills, giving them practical advice on how to write a CV, for instance.”
She continues: “The managers of the individual departments enjoy having the students here. They particularly like receiving the feedback from the school, which describes what the students have enjoyed doing most in any particular week. The favourite so far, which has caused a bit of competition between the other departments, is Operations, based in our 230,000sq ft warehouse.”
Louise Parrish, Lead Learning Support Assistant at LVS Hassocks, described the experience offered by Avtrade’s individual managers as “patient and supportive”. She says: “It was so lovely seeing the students interact with new adults, trying different tasks and learning new skills – doing it all at their own pace.”
Miranda adds that it has been especially pleasing to see the students progress over the course of the six-week programme: “One student was particularly quiet at first, but as she got to know me and others, she came out of herself and became talkative and engaging.”
Welcoming the work experience students is a positive and refreshing experience for all those involved, with managers and other employees benefiting from getting to work with people who have additional needs. “Working with the pupils requires a different approach, compared to how they would deal with their usual colleagues, which makes it a very positive experience for everyone,” says Miranda.