• Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

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Robots and Racing Cars Kick off Work Discovery Week

Screen Shot 2015-06-23 at 14.20.15SUNDERLAND pupils will be racing to the Stadium of Light next week – when Work Discovery Week gets underway with the most exciting launch event to date.

The annual event – which was set up to link young people from across the city with top businesses around the region – is now in its third year, with more than 1000 students taking part in activities from June 29 to July 3.

And among the many events planned for the opening day will be everything from a pit stop challenge where young people will construct a racing car to an appearance by an 8ft high robot which has appeared with everyone from Rihanna to Justin Bieber.

The fun activities all have a serious message however – showcasing to young people the diversity of jobs available across a wide range of sectors.

Work Discovery Week was set up by the Sunderland’s Economic Leadership Board Business Schools Task Group, to help young people in the city improve their employability.

Since its launch it has gone from strength to strength and it is now held up nationally as a blueprint on how to engage young people with businesses.

At the open day at the Stadium of Light on Monday (June 29) around 1000 young people will take part in a range of workshops, demonstrations and visit a careers’ fair with more than 40 businesses taking part.

The event is sponsored by a number of top organisations including Sunderland College, the University of Sunderland, Gentoo, Arriva and Nissan along with key partners, Sunderland City Council, SAFC and NECC.

Young people involved in the opening day will be able to try Nissan’s interactive game pod where they can try and achieve the fastest time on a virtual lap, they can also try brick laying and welding and find out about the development of 3D science and technology at FabLab Sunderland.

One of the highlights of the day will be two performances by Titan the Robot, organised by South Tyneside College.

The robot has appeared on endless television programmes and with a range of international music stars along with being regularly seen at science shows around the globe.

To see the young people involved in a range of activities, including the performance by Titan, the racing car challenges and a range of other demonstrations. The opening ceremony kicks off at 9:30am.

 

Gary Hutchinson, co-chair of the Business Schools Task Group said Work Discovery Week continued to go from strength to strength.

“The event has grown year on year and 2015 is going to be spectacular,” he said.

“Not only do we have an amazing opening event planned but we have a week full of visits by schools to businesses across the region, culminating in our problem solving challenge event on Friday.

“We have 21 schools involved this year and we have extended our careers fair so that more people can benefit from meeting these great organisations in one place face to face.”

By admin