Be Ambitious Employer Networking Event 2024

Following two successful years of the Be Ambitious programme, our Careers and Employability team are excited to roll out the programme for a third year to our first year students.

To kick off Be Ambitious Week 2025, the team held an employer networking event today. Employers from various organisations and companies, both local and national, attended the event to learn more about how they can support our students throughout Be Ambitious Week. 

During Be Ambitious Week, students can either participate in a work placement, attend employability workshops or take part in an employer-led project, where industry experts set real-time briefs for students to work on and present back their findings at the end of the week.

The flagship programme ensures students have access to meaningful employer encounters and gain work experience, helping them develop key employability skills and prepare them for the world of work.

The employer networking event was a fantastic opportunity to strengthen partnerships with organisations and employers, who play a vital role in the running of Be Ambitious Week.

Attendees heard from the Careers and Employability team at Ashton, as well as Dean Kleban from Tameside Council who shared an insight into the local support available for businesses and young people. Councillor Andrew McLaren also explored his thoughts on supporting young talent within the Tameside borough, endorsing the College on our work for providing meaningful opportunities for students. In addition, Gillian Finch from Carpenter Ltd. spoke about her experience of getting involved in Be Ambitious Week last year and how rewarding and important it is to mentor and work with the students of Ashton Sixth Form College.

Current students, Aoife and Maisie also shared valuable insights from a student's perspective, emphasising how Be Ambitious Week has impacted their learning journey, and the skills they have acquired through the programme.

Rachel Smirke, Director of Curriculum and Progression said:

The Employer Networking event is an opportunity to invite in local organisations that have either worked with us in the past or would like to in the future. It was fantastic to hear how our students have added value to organisations and how much employers value the experience of working with our talented students. The aim is always to ensure that we support our students to develop essential skills for the workforce but the cherry on the top is hearing just how mutually beneficial the experience is.  We look forward to another successful year and are excited to see the outcomes of this year's projects.

The team at Ashton are looking forward to another successful year of Be Ambitious in 2025 and are excited to continue working with organisations to create enriching experiences for our students.