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On Tuesday 4th of March, UC4 had the opportunity to participate in an employability workshop organised by Spirax Sarco, a multi-national engineering group with headquarters in Cheltenham. Throughout the morning, we worked closely with experts from the company to complete a collaborative creative task based on a typical business scenario, before learning a little bit about the company itself. This gave us a unique opportunity to develop key employability skills, and the morning was thoroughly enjoyed by all! 

After a short briefing regarding the structure of the morning, we began working in small groups to fulfil one main objective: developing an unused building in Cheltenham into a fully-fledged business. Within our groups, we chose our roles according to our strengths - from project manager, to finance manager, to graphics and communications manager. Each role had their deliverables - a series of complex tasks which required not only ingenuity, but also teamwork and communication. The products of these tasks became our business plans, which we pitched to judges at the end of the morning. With only one and a half hours to prepare these plans, the room was perpetually abuzz! 

Once the creative time was up, our year was split into three groups, taking turns to participate in different activities. The first being a fun STEM quiz in which we had to collaborate with our groups to achieve the highest score, teaching us the importance of teamwork and trust. The second activity involved self-introductions from a few of Spirax Sarco’s own employees, where they shared with us inspiring life experiences. Even though they presently work together for the same company, the range of pathways that they had taken before today reminded us that quantifiable achievements are not always as crucial as they seem. In fact, soft skills such as communication and networking are equally important in the wider world. Of course, the third activity was none other than having each group pitch their start-ups to a panel of “investors”. Although nerve-wracking, everyone presented bravely and relished the opportunity to present their ideas. 

All in all, this event was incredibly eye-opening. It not only allowed us to learn about the practical aspects of what it takes to run a business, but also, the value of adaptability, collaboration, and creativity in the larger context of life.

A huge thank you to the Professional Guidance Centre on behalf of our year group – we all enjoyed this activity, and we hope that the next batch of UC4s will appreciate it as much as we did! 

Elizabeth and Lily, UC4