Last Monday, our Managing Director Alexandra Powell spent a morning at Painsley Catholic College in Cheadle delivering a series of workshops to their Year 9 students.
Across eight back-to-back sessions, she worked with 240 students on a topic she feels particularly passionate about: recognising the transferable skills they're already developing in everyday life.
.jpeg)
The Workshop Experience
The concept behind these sessions was straightforward - help these 13-14 year olds identify valuable skills they're already using but might not recognise as significant.
At this age, many teenagers haven't yet connected their daily activities with professional capabilities, which can limit their confidence and self-awareness.
Alexandra structured each 40-minute session around interactive discussions that examined everyday scenarios. Students analysed activities they regularly participate in - from organising social events to creating content on social media - and identified the underlying skills these activities develop.
What made these sessions particularly rewarding was witnessing those 'lightbulb moments' when students began to recognise their own capabilities.
By the end of each workshop, students had mapped out an impressive array of skills they already possess: problem-solving, time management, creativity, communication, and leadership, among others.
.jpeg)
Why This Matters
For many students, this exercise was genuinely eye-opening. When teenagers don't recognise their own strengths, they often underestimate their potential or feel anxious about future career decisions. Simply helping them connect everyday experiences to professional skills can transform how they view themselves and their capabilities.
When young people recognise the value in activities they're already doing and enjoying, it builds confidence and helps them see potential pathways they might not have considered.
The Local Connection
As a business based in Cheadle, these opportunities to connect with local schools like Painsley Catholic College are particularly meaningful to us.
It was especially sentimental for our Project Director Richard Powell, who attended Painsley himself as a child.
While this was our first workshop at Painsley specifically focused on transferable skills, we've enjoyed being part of various school initiatives across Staffordshire over the years. There's something uniquely rewarding about sharing professional insights with young people in our own community.
If you're interested in learning more about this workshop or our occasional educational collaborations, please feel free to reach out.
