The SEGRO Academy introduces high school students to the warehouse industry

The SEGRO Academy is the first educational project of this type in Poland, popularizing the learning of the English language while introducing young people to the warehouse and production industry.

The first edition of the project was attended by almost 300 third-grade students from seven secondary schools in Łódź and Poznań and their surroundings, i.e. from two of the six locations where SEGRO logistics parks in Poland are located. The first stage, carried out at the end of September in schools, consisted of a proprietary negotiation game prepared in English by the "Innowatorium" foundation. Half of the students played the role of the client, half of the warehouse manager, and the task was to negotiate the best rates. From each of the seven schools, four students made it to the finals. The final, also conducted in English, was based on the best possible management of customers in the warehouse space, taking into account the specificity of their industry and individual needs. Winners from the Mechanical School Complex for them. KEN in Poznań and the Energy Technical School in Poznań received professional English language courses.

One of the long-term goals of the "Responsible SEGRO" program is to support local communities, including in the areas of education, employment and environmental protection. The SEGRO Academy is a support for young people, especially from less affluent backgrounds, in the field of language learning, and at the same time an attempt to introduce them to the warehouse and production industry as an attractive workplace in adult life.

- The SEGRO Academy, implemented in cooperation with the "Innowatorium" Foundation, perfectly fits the goals of our new "Responsible SEGRO" program. In a creative way, using proprietary simulation games, we encourage young people to learn the language, and at the same time present the principles of our industry. We are proud because it is the first project of this type in our country - says Bożena Krawczyk, SEGRO Investment Director for Central Europe and adds: We hope that English language courses will increase the chances of young people on the labor market, and the games themselves will be an inspiration for many students who are considering the direction of their further education, and in the future also of their professional career.

The "Innowatorium" Foundation, which has been operating since 2010, was responsible for the development of the substantive part of the project, and its main goal is to introduce modern tools to the teaching system and to raise teachers' knowledge. As part of its activities, the foundation supports the development of soft skills, decision-making skills, communication and management.

- We are very pleased with the effects of the joint initiative with SEGRO as part of the Academy. Education is often a monotonous duty for young people, and such projects allow to diversify everyday school life and bring a lot of additional, fresh information to young, receptive heads. The Foundation tries to awaken new interests in young people that will help them choose their own professional path in the future. We want there to be a change that will allow us to adapt the educational process to the current reality and to the needs of the market, including the warehouse market - explains Teodor Sobczak, President of the Board of the Foundation for Supporting Education and Development "Innowatorium".

ABOUT SEGRO:

SEGRO, a company with the status of a Real Estate Investment Trust ("REIT"), listed on the London Stock Exchange in the FTSE 100 index, is a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouse and production space with a portfolio of 8.8 million m2 with a value of 15 £ 3 billion. The company's properties are strategically located in Great Britain - near London and in the South-West and Central England, as well as in continental Europe in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.

For over 100 years, SEGRO has been creating a space that offers unique opportunities. The company builds both modern "big box" warehouses, used mainly by regional, national and international distribution centers, as well as municipal warehouses located near major agglomerations and business centers. SEGRO provides the highest quality facilities where clients can effectively develop their business.

The company started its operations in Central Europe at the end of 2005. Currently, the developer is investing in such strategic locations as: Gliwice, Łódź, Poznań, Praga, Stryków, Tychy, Warsaw and Wrocław.

More information: www.SEGRO.com