Business students from Carlisle College are collaborating with local companies to help shape the future of their city through the ProjX scheme funded by the Story construction group, with support from Carlisle City Council and other local businesses. The programme is project managed by the Centre for Leadership Performance.
Level 3 Business Students at Carlisle College will work with a range of industry experts to develop their ideas about how £19.7 million of Government funding could be spent to regenerate the city. The innovative ProjX leadership and work awareness programme will continue to the end of the year, culminating in the students presenting their ideas to their ‘clients’ and the other businesses involved.
Student ‘employees’ work collaboratively together in their teams with industry experts providing knowledge and expert input into their project brief, whilst gaining exposure to a range of businesses, jobs, skill sets and careers. Different elements of the task including finance, marketing, law, and legal and project management will be supported by local companies including Baines Wilson, Armstrong Watson, and CCL Solutions.
The teams are encouraged to demonstrate leadership in their approach to the task, and through their work with local businesses students gain an insight into the roles and disciplines needed to deliver against any professional project. They will also develop transferable workplace skills including teamworking, communication and problem-solving.
The young people must create a scheme that will appeal to locals and tourists and benefit the local community. The teams must build future sustainability into their plans, while considering cost, legal requirements, environmental impact, and health & safety.
They must also plan the marketing of the redeveloped areas – including how to attract businesses while also engaging the community.
Students teams will work together during independent study time to complete the project over the course of six weeks. The CforLP will liaise with the college and students throughout the programme to provide support.
Nicola Woolley, Secondary Programme Manager at the CforLP explains: “ProjX ensures we are engaging young people and seeking their views and ideas, empowering them to feel connected in their local communities. It gives students the opportunity to be involved in planning, designing, implementing, presenting and reviewing their project, exposing them to a range of situations, skills and job roles. They gain a greater understanding of the range of local businesses in the area including less visible jobs and roles and engage with positive role models across the local business community and forge on-going links.”
Pupils in West Cumbrian schools have already benefited over the past two years from various ProjX programmes focused on the regeneration of the county’s towns and city, funded by Sellafield Ltd.
To find out more about ProjX or get involved with the work developing leadership and workplace skills in young people within Cumbria visit www.cforlp.org.uk
