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Latest news with #skills

'Generous response' to church's tool donation drive to help people in Africa
'Generous response' to church's tool donation drive to help people in Africa

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • General
  • Yahoo

'Generous response' to church's tool donation drive to help people in Africa

A donation drive has sparked new opportunities and hope for people in Africa. Tools With A Mission (TWAM), a UK charity that collects and refurbishes donated tools, recently received a large collection from Bemerton Methodist Church following a donation day on Saturday, July 19. TWAM refurbishes tools and assembles them into kits, which are then shipped overseas to help individuals develop skills and earn a living. In 2024 alone, more than 20,000 tools and toolkits were sent to Africa, supporting more than 2,000 projects in six countries, including Burundi, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Read more Eight-year-old becomes first to complete city bear trail Inspirational Salisbury teen skydives and takes on epic run for good causes Charity walk raises more than £100,000 for children and young adults hospices Eron was helped by TWAM and has now set up her own tailoring business. (Image: Tools With A Mission) A spokesman for TWAM said: "The generous response to the tool collections done on behalf of TWAM at Bemerton Methodist Church will help our work tremendously." TWAM's mission emphasises sustainable, long-term change rather than temporary relief. The organisation believes people living in extreme poverty don't just need a one-off financial handout that may allow them to eat for a day, but need a sustainable way to earn a consistent income and put food on the table every single day. The impact of these donations is felt deeply by the recipients, many of whom face significant challenges. The spokesman said: "A young woman who is trained in tailoring, such as Eron, is able to use her new skills to earn a good wage, breaking the cycle of poverty. "Eron needed a helping hand to fulfil her dream of owning a tailoring business." Eron said: "Tailoring is a good choice as even if you have no materials, you can do repairs and still earn money. "Doing what you love doing makes the whole world of difference." TWAM's work also benefits communities closer to home. In the UK, organisations have been given old tools in need of a new home, such as refurbished gardening tools used to nurture old woodland in Suffolk. By extending the life of donated tools, TWAM also helps the environment, with the organisation saving more than 1,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions every single year by refurbishing tools and preventing them from ending up in landfills. TWAM accepts a wide range of tools, from electric sewing machines to industrial saws. It also offers volunteering opportunities for those who wish to contribute.

Work-ready skills give university students a leg-up in real life
Work-ready skills give university students a leg-up in real life

Times

time5 days ago

  • Business
  • Times

Work-ready skills give university students a leg-up in real life

Graduating from a prestigious university was once the key to unlocking a professional career, but for many employers, simply holding a degree is no longer enough. With the number of graduate-level vacancies down 27 per cent in just a year and stark headlines highlighting that 600,000 graduates are on benefits, this year's crop of A-level students are already eyeing their future careers and focused on building the work-ready skills increasingly favoured by recruiters. It's a smart career move as a Chartered Management Institute report shows a big disconnect between student expectations and employer needs, with only 3 per cent of managers agreeing that graduates are ready for the realities of work. 'Good grades are not enough,' Petra Wilton, the CMI's director of policy and external affairs, says. 'Employers want to see what are, in essence, core management skills — resilience, self-awareness, and the ability to collaborate, communicate clearly and adapt quickly to new challenges.' To cater for this seismic shift, a number of universities are developing skills-centric degrees. They offer intensive skills-building, including critical thinking, leadership, teamwork and problem-solving, both through core teaching and as add-on courses. The concept is already embedded in other countries, with Singapore's 21st-century competencies framework and Australia's 'general capabilities' curriculum covering critical and creative thinking, while Finland and Denmark have long promoted project-based learning to foster teamwork and problem-solving. In the UK, universities — including Bristol and Kingston — are championing the change. Kingston's own research found 56 per cent of businesses were now likely to consider a more skills-based approach in their hiring practices, leading the university to roll out its Future Skills model, equipping students with work-ready skills across its entire undergraduate curriculum. Professor Steven Spier, Kingston's vice-chancellor, explains: 'Students should look at how universities will prepare them for careers that are future-proof, so they are able to develop all the attributes required to readily adapt to the challenges of a fast-changing world of work alongside their subject-specific learning.' For parents used to the idea of traditional degrees, the concept may be baffling. As head of guidance at the careers specialist Joanne Carrington is used to explaining the change. 'Parents might find it helpful to reflect on their own workplace. What matters most in new employees? Often, it's not the subject they studied — it's how ready they are to work,' she says. Carrington believes that skills-based degrees build work-readiness from the start; students get experience in real workplaces, build confidence in how businesses work, and learn to solve problems in practical settings. For Robert Craig, chief operating officer at Skills Builder, the rise of skills-based degrees is symptomatic of a wider change in society. He believes skills-based hiring is a better predictor of future performance than the traditional approach, while a recent Harvard Business School study suggests it can also widen the talent pool, benefiting businesses and candidates. 'Skills-based hiring is about focusing on what a candidate can do, not just what qualifications they have,' Craig says. 'It's a shift from asking people to prove they've learnt something to asking them to show they can solve real-life problems and work with others. 'While the subject and the university's reputation are important, A-level students should look for a degree that provides a 'complete toolkit' for their future, combining academic knowledge with explicit opportunities to build the essential skills that employers are crying out for.' Become more skilful in your university search, with support from the National Foundation For Educational Research and Skills Builder. • Degrees have variable returns: Choose a subject that will give you technical and employment skills to position you well to enter occupations that are growing and fit your interests.• Be a skills detective: Look beyond the course content. Investigate how they will help you build skills. Ask about project work, presentations and work placements.• Consider the student experience: Look at student satisfaction with skills and career support. Does the university provide opportunities for students to build their skills, experiences and portfolios beyond their main course?• Build your 'skills CV' now: Don't wait until you graduate. Your part-time job, volunteering, school projects and hobbies are all building your essential skills. Actively seek experiences that will challenge you to lead a team, solve a problem or speak in public.• Learn the language: It's not enough to have skills; you must be able to talk about them. In your statement or an interview, instead of just saying, 'I worked in a shop', say: 'I developed my teamwork skills by collaborating with colleagues to manage stock and my listening skills by carefully responding to customer needs.' Paulina Lipiec, a former teacher, is studying a skills-based degree in forensic psychology at Kingston University. The 27-year-old from Feltham, west London, says: 'There needs to be a shift in how we define success in education. We need to move away from the idea that academic results are the only measure of ability. 'Skills-based programmes don't just build confidence in what you know — they build confidence in yourself, giving you the drive to go further and achieve more. 'Learning why or how something works isn't always enough but being able to demonstrate both personal and professional skills is what truly sets you apart. In today's rapidly changing world, qualities like empathy, communication, leadership, teamwork and time management are critical. 'When you know your strengths and have the skills to back them up, you're not just waiting for doors to open up to you, you're actively knocking on them.' Nearly half of UK students now live at home while studying, highlighting a shift in how students approach university life. The Leeds Beckett University report said 64 per cent of students chose a local university to save money while 46 per cent wanted to remain close to their family. However, only 22 per cent said their best choice of course was at their local university. Tracey Lancaster, deputy vice-chancellor, said: 'The next generation of students are navigating many challenges.' Gen Z jobseekers are prioritising 'growth mindset' roles that offer personal development opportunities, as competition with AI for entry-level work intensifies. Younger workers are 68 per cent more likely to prioritise personal development such as language lessons, mentoring schemes and study leave, compared with other generations, the new Flexa's work index reports. The change is being picked up by employers, with 64 per cent of job postings now advertising learning and development benefits. Institute of Student Employers research shows competition for graduate roles is at a record high, with an estimated 1.2 million applications for just 17,000 graduate vacancies last year. With some graduates applying for more than 1,000 roles, applicants are facing burnout before they even begin a job. Oliver Sidwell, of the student jobs board Rate My Placement, said: 'If you think you're suffering, take a break and acknowledge why you're feeling this way and try not to dwell on feelings of rejection.' One in five professional staff is taking their laptop on holiday this summer, leading employment experts to criticise the growing culture of 'leavism', where annual leave is no longer a protected time for rest but an extension of the working week. Nicola Weatherhead from Totaljobs said: 'Whether it's due to internal pressure, unrealistic employer expectations, or a fear of falling behind, this 'always on' culture is taking a toll. Businesses have a responsibility to create environments where rest is respected and encouraged.' The National Farmers' Union is seeking a visionary and values-driven leader to become the next director-general. Representing more than 44,000 farming and growing businesses across England and Wales, the NFU is an influential voice in British agriculture, shaping national policy and promoting the vital role of sustainable food production. As a pivotal position at the heart of a changing and high-profile industry, the appointee will guide the NFU through a time of significant challenge and opportunity, ranging from the transition to post-subsidy agriculture and environmental land management schemes to food security, global trade and evolving consumer expectations. Applicants should bring a deep understanding of the agricultural sector, either directly or through adjacent experience in the wider food supply chain, alongside a track record of strategic leadership in complex, high-stakes environments. Outstanding communication and influencing skills, with the political acumen to build credibility across government and industry, are also desirable. The role is based at NFU's Stoneleigh office, with regular travel to Westminster and other locations across England and Wales. Apply by September 7 at

Bosses urge Chancellor to save a million kids from the scrapheap
Bosses urge Chancellor to save a million kids from the scrapheap

Daily Mail​

time03-08-2025

  • Business
  • Daily Mail​

Bosses urge Chancellor to save a million kids from the scrapheap

More than 125 bosses, peers and academics have written to Rachel Reeves in a stark warning over the 'scandal' of nearly a million young people at risk of being a wasted generation. Official figures show there is an army of NEETs – people aged 16-24 who are not in employment, education or training. The letter, to be delivered to the Chancellor today, says that without urgent action, huge numbers are destined 'for the scrapheap.' It has been co-ordinated by Christopher Nieper, boss of the David Nieper fashion business, along with the Jobs Foundation charity. Signatories include JCB chief Lord Bamford, City tycoon Lord Spencer, property mogul Jamie Ritblat, grocery entrepreneur Sean Ramsden and venture capitalist Jon Moulton. Toyota UK and the Rigby Group, Europe's largest private IT services company, are also among the signatories urging a skills tax relief to incentivise firms to train young people, which they say would benefit the Exchequer and boost less prosperous areas. Nieper, who has rescued a failing school in Derbyshire which claims that it helped all 18-year-old pupils secure a job or further education, said: 'The cost of the NEETs crisis to the economy is unsustainable – not just in welfare payments but in lost productivity, unfulfilled potential and long-term damage caused by early unemployment.' He has proposed a tax break for employers and says modelling shows that if the number of NEETs is halved, the Exchequer would gain up to £23billion.

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