SARAH Webber (19) from Launceston, along with fellow student Skye Roberts, attended the launch of the Deloitte Employability Skills Pledge at the Deloitte head office in London's 'square mile' last Thursday. Sarah is studying Hospitality Supervision at Cornwall College St Austell.
Deloitte, the international accounting and consulting giant, has been working closely with further education colleges and the new Deloitte Skills Pledge is designed to encourage employers to commit to guarantee an interview to any prospective employee who has been through the Deloitte employability programme.
Sarah is one of the many Cornwall College students to have gone through the Deloitte employability scheme. She said: "To start with it was a bit of a shock, I didn't want to do the course. I previously came into college three days a week and I had a job. This course meant that I had to give up my job because I was required to come it college on more days. Looking now at how far I've come, I'm pleased to say it was actually worth it.
"I have learned so much about myself, I have leadership qualities, the group always seems to look to me to lead. The course has made me ambitious, I'm more confident and the Deloitte qualification means when competing for a job, I've got that little bit extra."
Cornwall College is one of only nine Employability Skills Centres in the country. Its role is to not only put students through this scheme but to train other lecturers from around the South West to be able to deliver this one-year course at their own colleges.
Cornwall College principal, Dave Linnell explained; "For a long time there have been concerns from business about the employability of young people coming out of colleges and universities. Deloitte decided to try and do something about it. They identified that colleges were best placed to partner with, and they have spent a lot of time, and money, establishing this employability skills programme.
"This approach is about developing essential skills. When students study their chosen subject, this obviously gives them the technical skills to function in their chosen fields, but students need more to succeed in the workplace. This programme highlights the importance of time-keeping and thinking about the way they present themselves, but it's also about organisation and
self-motivation."