West Suffolk College students are helping to change the image of Thetford and show it’s a great place to find a job.
Around 50 of them are spending two weeks on work experience at companies that they will then represent at a student engagement event, promoting and explaining about the businesses where they have worked.
Students from five different departments are working with the Thetford Business Forum in its tenth year, to promote companies in the town.
Media students are helping to produce a film to make people aware that Thetford has a dynamic economy with manufacturing, engineering and pharmaceutical firms as well as companies dealing in tourism. Business, engineering and hospitality students, among others, have been paired with companies in Thetford in order to gain knowledge and experience of local businesses as well as valuable connections. .
On Tuesday, 13 March there will be a special Business and Student Engagement launch at the college when the Thetford Business Forum roadshow comes to Bury and students will be promoting the companies where they have worked. The event will include exhibitors as well as speakers.
Organiser Valerie Watson-Brown from Thetford Business Forum said; “Thetford has an amazing business community with many market leaders based in and around the town. This includes multi-national companies working in technically advanced industries, making the town a perfect place for individuals looking for a career, or for companies looking to relocate. In its anniversary year the forum has set some strategic goals to raise the profile of Thetford as a great place to work and play. With the dualling of the A11 there has never been a better time to showcase what the area has to offer. Working with West Suffolk College members have developed a unique project to incorporate the rebrand of the forum as well as to work with students on developing a better way to engage with potential employees”.
The pilot project is being supported by Place21, a West Suffolk College initiative part funded by the European Social Fund. Place21 stands for ‘A project based learning approach to community and employment in the 21st century’.
Andrew Wheeler from Place21, said the Thetford scheme is a pilot and they hope that other towns will want to do something similar.
The Business and Student Engagement Programme event is on March 13 from 10am – 2pm.