A Midlands engineering firm is continuing its mission to kick the skills gap into touch, after joining senior business leaders on a unique opportunity to garner inspiration from one of the countrys most successful youth unemployment projects.
Organised by Jaguar Land Rover and HRH The Prince of Waless charity, Business in the Community, adi Group was one of 16 companies to attend a Princes Seeing in Believing event, hosted by Premiership Rugby community project HITZ.
Designed to close the gap between the boardroom and the community, Seeing is Believing brings senior executives face to face with pressing social issues. The event aimed to show delegates first-hand how rugby is changing lives and helping young people access the world of work.
Rugby World Cup winner Jason Robinson joined the group in South London to showcase how the programme is changing the lives of young people from disadvantaged communities through the values that sport instils.
Held in the run up to the 2015 Rugby World Cup, delegates had the opportunity to meet Jason and view the world famous Webb Ellis Cup, as part of the Trophy Tour.
adi Group has been a member of Business in the Community (BITC) for more than 10 years and is committed to a broad programme of corporate social responsibility initiatives, including BITCs Ready for Work programme.
The programme is designed to provide local disadvantaged people a route back into the workplace, with adi working with an average of eight individuals every year.
Attending the event for adi Group, group sales and marketing director James Sopwith said: Events like these are invaluable for gathering inspiration from projects that have synergy with our own, helping us to understand how we might be able to improve on the work we do.
The talent within these young adults is amply apparent when they are given a chance to shine. Their desire to achieve and win is inspiring.
Alongside that, the dedication of the volunteers who coach and mentor the programme was an example to be followed.
As well as the significant opportunities this programme delivers to its participants, it is also important to recognise the clear business benefits that being involved in a programme like HITZ can bring. I will be making a point of further understanding how it operates in our area.