Local students make the grade at SEGRO’s Schools Challenge
A team of students from Eden Girls’ School in Slough has been crowned the winner at the Grand Final of the inaugural SEGRO Schools Challenge in partnership with Slough-based charity, Learning to Work, which was set up to facilitate links between education and the world of work.
The challenge was rolled out across four local schools close to the Slough Trading Estate in the Autumn term, with more than 650 students aged 13 to 14 years old, taking part from Beechwood School, Eden Girls’ School, Herschel Grammar School and The Westgate School.
Working in teams, the Year 9 students were set the challenge of designing the best sustainable business to be located within an industrial unit on the Slough Trading Estate. Each team presented their design to volunteers from businesses based on the Trading Estate, including Wates Construction, with the winning team from each school progressing through to the Grand Final.
The final took place at SEGRO’s office on the Slough Trading Estate, with the teams from each school rising to the challenge of pitching their business idea to a panel of judges from SEGRO and Wates Construction.
James Craddock, Managing Director, Thames Valley at SEGRO, said:
“Congratulations to the winning team from Eden Girls’ School and all those who took part. The SEGRO Schools Challenge is very much about inspiring the next generation of workers, showing them what their future careers could look like and encouraging them to think creatively.
“It is clear from seeing the standard of the entries presented by the teams that Slough has many talented young people and it is therefore vital that companies like SEGRO and our customers on the Slough Trading Estate help provide opportunities for them to maximise this potential.
“This initiative is just one part of the Slough Community Investment Plan we launched in the summer to make a real, positive difference to the lives of young people in Slough.”
Rachael Burt, Chief Executive at Learning to Work, said:
“This challenge, in partnership with SEGRO, has been created to support young people from schools closest to the Slough Trading Estate to develop the skills they will need to be successful in the workplace.
“It will also inspire and excite them about sustainability, innovation and their future careers on the Slough Trading Estate.”
The SEGRO Schools Challenge is one of many initiatives contained within SEGRO’s Community Investment Plan for Slough, which will benefit more than 3,000 mostly young local people this year alone. Through its Responsible SEGRO commitments, the company is implementing Community Investment Plans in all its key markets in the UK and Continental Europe to provide investment in skills, employment, environmental and economic programmes.
Learning to Work is one of six local community delivery partners, with Groundwork South, Local Supply Chain, FEDCAP, YMCA and Slough Hub supporting other initiatives.
Notes to editors:
About SEGRO
SEGRO is a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris, and is a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses and industrial property. It owns or manages 9.7 million square metres of space (104 million square feet) valued at £23.8 billion serving customers from a wide range of industry sectors. Its properties are located in and around major cities and at key transportation hubs in the UK and in seven other European countries.
For over 100 years SEGRO has been creating the space that enables extraordinary things to happen. From modern big box warehouses, used primarily for regional, national and international distribution hubs, to urban warehousing located close to major population centres and business districts, it provides high-quality assets that allow its customers to thrive.
A commitment to be a force for societal and environmental good is integral to SEGRO’s purpose and strategy. Its Responsible SEGRO framework focuses on three long-term priorities where the company believes it can make the greatest impact: Championing Low-Carbon Growth, Investing in Local Communities and Environments and Nurturing Talent.
See www.SEGRO.com for further information.
About Learning to Work
Learning to Work is an award-winning UK youth development charity supporting over 20,000 children each year around Slough. They have been offering work-related learning provision and a sound, successful brokerage service for over 25 years bringing together business, education, opportunities, knowledge, and experience through activities that bring the world of work alive for young people.