Marvin OnumonuBarron McCann, a tech firm that provides IT services across the UK and Europe, recently hosted 15 pupils from The Bemrose School for an employer engagement day aimed at giving students practical work experience.
The initiative supported pupils who may find it difficult to secure traditional work placements, allowing them to gain a real-world view of different careers and build connections.
Students toured Barron McCann’s facilities, including the innovation hub, workshop, warehouse and training centre.
They were split into groups to work on projects about social media and community engagement or inclusion and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), before presenting their findings to Bemrose School’s deputy head and Lucy Laughton, business support co-ordinator at Barron McCann.
Laughton said: “I was really impressed by the pupils who took part and visited us for the engagement day.
“They worked well in teams, delivered confident presentations, and showed real enthusiasm and potential throughout the day.
“One student, in particular, presented fresh, insightful ideas around our social media channels that genuinely impressed the team.”
Laughton added: “This day was especially meaningful to me as my father, Arthur Titterton, was a former Bemrose pupil and contributed a chapter to the school’s history book Bemrose School: The Grammar Years.
“Hosting students from a school so personally significant was a real privilege.
“Providing students with real-world experiences like this helps build their confidence, develop key skills and unlocks their potential.”
Claire Amos, careers lead at The Bemrose School, said: “Partnering with Barron McCann provided our pupils with an invaluable insight into workplace culture and modern career paths.
“Our pupils presented with confidence and displayed their newfound knowledge with ease, impressing us all.”
