Inside Term Two: Our Employer Engagement Roundup
From battery technology and brain development to social work careers and automotive diagnostics, the second half of term has been packed with employer-led learning across Hugh Baird College and Sefton Sixth Form College.
Here is a look at what has been happening.
ACEs Awareness with South Sefton Primary Care Network
Access to Higher Education Health and Social Care students took part in an engaging session led by Jason and his team from South Sefton Primary Care Network. The session focused on the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) programme and included an interactive activity exploring key statistics and the real impact of those experiences on individuals and communities.
Design Consultation with Magnet Autos
Level 3 Art and students collaborated with Magnet Autos to explore practical applications of their creative skills. The session involved discussions around garage wall designs, different visual aesthetics including 3D effects, and the types of durable paint finishes suitable for commercial environments.
Battery Technology and Autonomous Vehicles with Varta
Motor Vehicle apprentices at Level 2 and 3 welcomed Varta to the College for an industry visit. The team delivered an insightful session covering battery technology and the future of autonomous vehicles, giving apprentices practical knowledge they can apply directly in their current roles.
Community Wellness at Venus Community Centre
Health and Beauty students visited Venus Community Centre to deliver a pamper and wellness session for the local community. The experience gave learners the opportunity to apply their practical skills in a real community setting while building confidence and professionalism.
Industry Insight with Elegance Aesthetics
Beauty and ESOL Hair and Beauty students welcomed Ashleigh from Elegance Aesthetics into college. Ashleigh spoke about her route into the industry, the importance of commitment and attendance, and delivered theory sessions on hair and beauty products, covering ingredients, formulations and personal branding.
Real-World Bricklaying with Stock Brickwork
Level 1 Brickwork learners welcomed James Burns from Stock Brickwork to campus for a session focused on real-world industry practice. Students gained hands-on understanding of site skills and techniques, had the opportunity to ask questions and heard directly from a trade professional about what working in the sector involves.
Apprenticeship Fair for Business Students
Level 3 Business students attended the UK Apprenticeship Fair, exploring the wide range of apprenticeship opportunities available to them and gaining practical guidance on pathways into professional and business careers.
Early Years Expertise with Sefton Council and Read to Bump
Childcare students at Level 2 and T-level have benefited from a series of external speaker sessions this term. Kim Evans from Sefton Council led a discussion on the expectations of an Early Years Practitioner, covering work placement, career opportunities and the links between on-the-job learning and academic study.
Jen from Read to Bump delivered an interactive session on the importance of prenatal communication, linking current research to real-life parenting practice. Learners explored early attachment theory, foetal development and the impact of maternal voice on brain development, and reflected on how they can apply this knowledge in their future professional roles.
The SEND Team Leader from Sefton Council also visited to talk about how professionals and organisations support children with SEND needs, helping students understand the wider network of specialists they will work alongside in their careers.
Q&A Sessions with Keepmoat Subcontractors
Electrical Installation and Plumbing students at Levels 1, 2 and 3 took part in Q&A sessions with Keepmoat's electrical and plumbing subcontractors. These sessions gave learners direct access to industry professionals and the chance to ask questions about working life in the trades.
Heat Loss and Radiator Sizing with Stelrad
Level 3 Plumbing students welcomed Paul Barlow, Specification Manager at Stelrad, for a guest speaker presentation. Paul also set a work-related project around heat loss calculation and radiator sizing, giving learners the chance to apply their technical knowledge to a genuine industry scenario.
Airbus Site Visits for Engineering Students
Engineering students at Level 3 have had the opportunity to visit Airbus this term, with Year 1 students attending in January and Year 2 students in March. These site visits gave learners first-hand exposure to advanced manufacturing environments and the engineering disciplines shaping some of the world's most ambitious aerospace projects.
Jaguar Land Rover Visit for University Centre Engineering Students
Students from the Level 4 and 5 Foundation Degree in Engineering (Advanced Manufacturing) at Hugh Baird University Centre gained behind-the-scenes access to Jaguar Land Rover's world-class manufacturing facility in Halewood. The visit provided an exceptional insight into high-precision engineering, production systems and the standards expected at the very top of the automotive sector.
Marketing and Content Creation for Hairdressing Students
Level 2 Hair and Level 3 Nail Technology students welcomed a beauty business marketing specialist and content creator to discuss how to attract clients in the modern industry. The session covered making videos and reels, building an online presence and using content creation tools to establish and grow a client base after entering the sector.
Social Work Careers Panel with Cheshire and Merseyside Teaching Partnership
A wide range of Health and Social Care learners were invited to a collaborative employer engagement event with the Cheshire and Merseyside Social Work Teaching Partnership. More than ten experienced practitioners joined the session, representing services including mental health, learning disabilities and autism, fostering, family support and assessment.
Practitioners shared their professional journeys, explained how social work operates within multidisciplinary teams alongside health professionals and other partners, and outlined routes into employment including apprenticeships, training programmes and career development pathways. Students were highly engaged throughout and left with a clearer understanding of both the profession and the routes available to them.
Community Support and Homelessness Awareness with Mr Old Hall St Kitchen
Level 1 Health students heard from Brian Phillips of Mr Old Hall St Kitchen, a group of volunteers who go out every Tuesday and Thursday night to support homeless people across Liverpool. The session gave learners valuable insight into community health, social inclusion and the voluntary sector's role in supporting vulnerable individuals.
Automotive Innovation with Cataclean
Motor Vehicle students across all levels took part in an employer-led project with Cataclean, gaining hands-on insight into the latest innovations shaping the automotive industry. The project gave learners real-world context for their technical studies and strengthened connections between college learning and industry practice.
Branding and Marketing with Empress Me Cosmetics
Media Makeup Level 2 students were joined by the team from Empress Me Cosmetics, who spoke about marketing products and building a brand. Students also received complimentary products and were introduced to a commission scheme rewarding them for promoting the brand using a personalised code, offering a genuine insight into influencer marketing and entrepreneurship.
Media Studies: Industry Voices
Lawson, a scriptwriting lecturer from Lancaster University, delivered an interactive session in which Media Studies learners developed protagonist and antagonist concepts, debated narrative ideas and planned marketing approaches.
Gerry Linford, playwright of The Peaceful Hour, joined students to talk about play writing and promotion. Alfredo Gilabert Ibanez, a VR Education Expert from Universidad Católica de Valencia, has been working with Level 1 and Level 3 Year 1 students on a Virtual Reality Learning Project. A BBC Verify careers and storytelling panel is planned for Level 3 students, and Harry Benyon, lead singer of Cut Short and a sound technician, will be working with students to create and edit music.
Liverpool Film Office delivered a motivational talk to Level 3 students, drawing on real-world experience and encouraging learners to step into new projects with confidence. Shaping Futures also visited Level 3 students to advise on approaching potential employers, building portfolios and understanding what the industry looks for at interview.
Brew Monday Pamper Day with Riverside Housing
Hairdressing and Level 3 Beauty students took part in a Brew Monday Pamper Day in collaboration with Riverside Housing, offering wellbeing services to the local community. The event was a fantastic opportunity for learners to give back to their community while developing their professional skills and client care.
Sefton Sixth Form College
Students at Sefton Sixth Form College have enjoyed a rich programme of employer and industry engagement across disciplines. Criminology students were joined by a lecturer from Hugh Baird University Centre to explore destination options. A-level Law students took part in a live court scene activity with Liverpool courts and local magistrates.
Biology and Environmental Science students visited Chester Zoo, while Sustainability Enhancement students have been working on ongoing environmental improvement projects with Rob Langdon from the Canal and River Trust. A-level Economics and Business students had a Q&A with a former student turned manager at Bidfood, and Arts, Humanities and Social Science students attended Your Party Conference in Liverpool, including a Q&A with Jeremy Corbyn and access to conference debates.
Year 12 students were joined by Sergeant Nick Banlin from Merseyside Police for a recruitment talk about the Cadets programme. Professor Tim Luckhurst from Futures for All delivered a talk on higher education and ambition to Personal Development students, followed by a Q&A. Year 12 Biology students also played a central role in hosting a regional Merseyside Medical Event for high schools across the area, with Q&As with medical students and consultants and a range of workshop activities, organised with John Waterworth of MCS Projects.
Sport and Fitness: Bootle Cricket Club
Level 2 Sport students visited Bootle Cricket Club to hear about the benefits of club membership, past achievements and the club's ambitions to grow. The session helped students understand how community sport organisations operate and the role participation and development play in sustaining local clubs.
