Our People: Human Resources / Engaging with the Next Generation

Walkers Shortbread engaging with the Next Generation

We recently attended Careers Fairs in both Elgin and Buckie for eight high schools across Moray.

The purpose of these fairs is to ensure that school leavers are aware of the opportunities available at businesses throughout their local area. Working in close partnership with Moray Council, we are excited to be participating in the youth employment scheme Developing the Youth Workforce Initiative which the Career Fair was part of.

The government backed scheme Developing the Youth Workforce Initiative is an extremely worthwhile scheme for us be aligned with and is in response to rising youth unemployment following the economic downturn. A new and innovative approach is required for the early intervention of engaging and preparing school leavers for the modern workplace, this is a wide ranging partnership at a national and local level including education, training providers and employers.    

The events were well attended with pupils from Speyside High, Elgin High, Elgin Academy, Forres Academy, Lossiemouth High, Milnes High, Buckie High & Keith Grammar. There was a lot of interest in the Walkers stand and it wasn’t just because of the free shortbread! We took the opportunity to promote the wider business focusing on the career path at Walkers and our desire to promote from within in both the factories and the other areas of the company – a concept that we are very much building on going forward.

Ann Tribe in full tartan action at the Buckie Career Fair below!

“The Career Fair was great for us to get a chance to interact with the high schools in the area. Attracting local talent is top of our HR agenda.”

– Ann Tribe

We also ran a competition which 463 pupils entered. The competition involved pupils approaching and asking questions. Prizes of shortbread hampers were delivered to the individuals at their schools this week following our prize draw.

Our HR team will be continuing with a number of these initiatives over the course of this year such as the government’s Career Ready programme. This will be headed up by Julie our HR Assistant Manager, who last year ran this initiative for the first time at Walkers. Six high school pupils where selected to be mentored by key people in our work place resulting in one of these employees being offered a full time role within our business, a great success story.

Visit our blog again soon to keep updated with our future HR initiatives!

-The Human Resources Team, Walkers Shortbread

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