Try-a-Trade launches with an exemplary demonstration of how to engage students by The Streetly Academy in Sutton Coldfield

The unique collaboration from Homeserve Foundation and Amazing Apprenticeships aims to offer 500 young people from the West Midlands practical experience in a range of domestic trades.

Attended by Richard Harpin, CEO of Homeserve, Founder of Amazing Apprenticeships, Anna Morrison CBE, and the Mayor of West Midlands Combined Authority, Andy Street, the launch event welcomed The Streetly Academy’s Year 10 and 11 students to try their hand at several skills, speak with trade experts, and gain insight in their exploration of a trade career.

The initiative sets out to challenge outdated perceptions and inspire students to recognise the multitude of opportunities a traineeship or apprenticeship in trades can offer.

The Streetly Academy enabled 25 of their young people to attend the workshop-focussed day, each identified as either a student with ambitions to work within trade areas or who were, as yet, undecided but for whom a career in trades would be a good fit.

Encouraged to experience skills including how to program a robot, handle tools, strip and clip a wire, and utilise VR technology, students explored what a career in the trades might hold.

“The students from the Streetly Academy were well informed, brilliantly prepared, understood a range of occupations and made the most of the opportunity presented to them which was all down to the exemplary work of their brilliant Careers Coordinator, Kat Stevenson and the senior leadership team.” said Morrison.

“It was magical to see the interaction between the students, training providers and employers and to watch as young people gained a real, hands-on understanding of the world of domestic trades and construction. We are looking forward to replicating the day with the remaining schools enrolled in the programme.”

The Try-a-Trade programme continues over the coming months, visiting a further 14 schools and aims to match young people to traineeships and apprenticeships vacancies throughout the summer and autumn of 2022.

Find out more on our Try a Trade page.