Hospital and Outreach Education have partnered with local business Bearward Engineering
Bearward Engineering have been working with Hospital and Outreach Education for the last two years offering careers education support and advice. By working closely with Vikki Morton, Careers Consultant from South Midlands Careers Hub, the relationship has now been strengthened with Bearward Engineering becoming an official Industry Partner to the school.
Over the coming year, staff from Bearward plan to visit the school and talk to pupils about their career journeys. This will be followed by a visit to Bearward for a ‘speed dating’ style session where pupils will question Bearward employees from different parts of the business, including design, finance, marketing and engineering. Later in the year, individual pupils will be invited to the company for work experience visits tailored to their specific interests.
Headteacher James Shryane said “I am very excited about this partnership with our neighbours at Bearward Engineering. Our pupils will learn a great deal about the world of work from directly seeing the daily experience of workers at Bearward.”
HOE Careers Coordinator Lianne Leverseidge said “I’m delighted about our new partnership with Bearward Engineering. This collaboration is an exciting step in ensuring our students, who often face complex barriers, still have access to high-quality career guidance and aspiration building opportunities. Bearward Engineering will help us demonstrate the real-world value of transferable skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and project management, which are crucial for all employment. This is about providing an inclusive pathway to future success, regardless of their current health and well-being challenges.
Steve Henry, Lean Coach & Transformation Manager at Bearward, said “It’s been a pleasure being able to work with Hospital and Outreach Education and supporting the community where we can. The dream is that one day this work will come full circle and we’ll see an ex-pupil starting a career with us here at Bearward.”
Bearward are also kickstarting Hospital and Outreach Education’s new fundraising campaign to transform the school’s outside area into a well-being garden featuring a sports area, communal eating space, outdoor classroom and sensory garden. They have generously donated £6,000 towards HOE’s £50,000 target.
If you would like to learn more about the fundraising campaign then please visit their JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/delapre-wellbeing-garden
Hospital and Outreach Education (HOE) is an Alternative Provision academy working to educate children across Northamptonshire who cannot attend their usual school due to a physical or mental health need.
Bearward Engineering Ltd, part of Wabtec Corporation, is an industrial radiator manufacturer employing some 300 people based in Northampton. Bearward’s factory is situated next door to HOE’s base in Northampton, Delapre Learning Centre.