STUDENTS at Cirencester Sixth Form College have been given the unique opportunity to participate in the nationally recognised employability programme, Career Ready.

This year the college enjoyed a particularly successful application process with 46 students joining the five Career Ready programmes in business, finance, IT, sports careers and engineering.

The students have already attended their first employer board meetings, observed the second year’s presentations on their summer internships and experienced masterclasses delivered by Kiki Kirby of Kiki Kirby Coaching.

They also joined thousands of other ‘career ready’ students from across the country at the annual ‘capital experience’ trip in London, which began at the Dominion Theatre with the career ready conference, a thought-provoking events.

This was followed by visits to employers for an effective communication and networking masterclass. The business students were hosted by Telereal Trillium, the finance students visited Lloyds Banking Group, IT students went to IBM, the sports students visited Chelsea Football Club and the engineering students were hosted by Laing O’Rourke Construction.

“It was really interesting and good fun”, said Dan Wood, an IT career ready student, on his visit to IBM. “I feel it has benefitted me and will help me in the future both with my networking skills and the contacts I have gained from the event.”

The students are currently meeting with their business mentors, who have an industry background and can offer face to face mentoring.

On Tuesday, March 1, a speed networking event will provide students the opportunity to network with a wide number of employers from across the Career Ready employer boards.

For more information about Career Ready contact laura.daniel@cirences ter.ac.uk or ian.mclarty@cirencester.ac.uk