Teach First and Change Agents UK have been nominated for National Council for Work Experience awards for their work experience programmes in categories not designated for charities.

The National Council for Work Experience Awards finalist list, announced yesterday, saw Teach First win recognition for a new scheme set up (in the ‘best newcomer’ category) and Change Agents UK receive a nomination for ‘Graduate Internship of the Year 2013’ in the category of organisations with less than 250 employees.

Teach First also received an finalist honour in a general ‘best charitable sector placement’ category. Other finalists are Blackpool Advocacy, Bryson Practice Learning Centre, Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support. 

The winners of each category will be announced at a ceremony in London on 19 March. 

Ellen Miller, chief executive at Blackpool Advocacy said: "We make sure this is real experience of work, getting student social workers supporting people as they find their way around the health and care systems - it really exposes them to the reality and difficulties of life, rather than just being stuck in a classroom being theoretical."

A Teach First spokeswoman said: “We were responding to the unique employment needs of STEM graduates when we developed Insight. By building a programme that ensured a ‘bitesize’ Teach First experience was open to them before they applied we could tackle the lack of work experience that many STEM graduates’ perceive prevents them from moving into teaching or alternative career paths. Additionally, we ensured they could develop the key competencies of leadership, self-evaluation, interaction and planning and organising across their placement.”

“This nomination is a big thank you to the stars of our programme; the university undergraduates, whose contribution, effort and integrity delivered incredible projects for those who needed it most - pupils from low-income backgrounds who are still less likely to study maths and science beyond the age of 16.”

 

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