Long Term Commitment

The Businesses Working with Wythenshawe Group is celebrating 5 years of commitment and involvement with the local community with the launch of two innovative education programmes.

The Numbers at Work & Job Search Skills projects aim to provide school children with a fun insight into the world of business and provide crucial skills to young people looking to enter employment.

Pupils at the Willows Primary School and St.Paul’s Catholic High School are the latest participants in a long line of successful initiatives that have seen local businesses work productively with a range of community partners.

The Numbers at Work Event saw children from The Willows Primary participate in work related mathematics problem solving activities faced in everyday business situations. Pupils were able to budget, plan and analyse data as they took part in fun activities including sending cargo to Singapore and designing and marketing a new fruit juice cocktail.

Willows Primary School headteacher, Anne Whitehead, said. “ It has been wonderful to see how children have responded to today’s event. The business volunteers have been terrific in helping our children to understand how they use numbers in a very entertaining morning.”

St.Pauls’ pupils were able to develop the skills needed to get a job as they worked with business partners on a range of disciplines associated with entering the workplace. Pupils were able to develop their CV’s and receive a job interview as part of the event.

The BW3 group, set up following a HRH Prince Charles Seeing is Believing visit and led by Manchester Airport, aims to support the social and economic regeneration of the area through community involvement activities and is a vital partner in the long term vision for Wythenshawe, Manchester’s Garden City.

Since its formation the BW3 group has developed many leading edge community involvement projects that have impacted on thousands of residents in Wythenshawe and citywide.

BW3 Chair and Community Relations Manager at Manchester Airport, Wendy Sinfield explains further. “BW3 is a dynamic partnership of businesses looking to affect change in our communities. We have a real commitment to supporting the regeneration aims for the area, in particular in working with partners to increase educational attainment and employment although our members have also been engaged in activities in support of the health and crime reduction agendas. We have seen the merits of working collaboratively and by being actively involved with our community I am certain we are making a valuable investment for the future.”

Councillor Sue Murphy, Manchester City Council Executive Member for Employment and Skills added, “BW3’s contribution to the community in Wythenshawe is having a significant impact on the quality of life in that area, and forms an important part of the regeneration plan for the city as a whole. By bringing the experience of business life into the classroom BW3 are helping to inspire and motivate young people, raising their aspirations and encouraging them to make positive choices in the future. BW3 is providing a model for the successful integration of the local community with businesses and employers to create a skilled and motivated workforce that is a real asset to everybody.”