Member Article

Activity day helps pupils understand value of learning

An interactive learning and activity day between a leading firm of Midlands’ solicitors and 50 primary school children has been hailed a huge success.

The Business and Enterprise Challenge was hosted by Higgs & Sons on Monday, July 11 at their Waterfront Business Park headquarters in Brierley Hill. Year 5 students (aged 9 and 10) who spent the day at Higgs were from the five primary schools that make up The Rowley Learning Trust: Brickhouse Primary, Old Hill Primary, Rowley Hall Primary, Springfield Primary and Temple Meadow Primary.

Jean Knight, Development Officer for The Trust, led the day. She said: “Higgs & Sons employees worked in teams with the children who were able to identify skills required by employers, discussing career choices and methods of working.

“The event gave the children a vision of opportunities available to them in order to understand the value of learning and of the world outside of the classroom.

“The Trust is incredibly grateful to Higgs & Sons for helping to raise the aspirations of the children regarding their future careers and lives within their communities.”

The aim of the event was to help the young people develop an understanding of the world of work, what qualifications are needed and just how important it is to be literate and numerate. Higgs’ employees were put into teams with the children where their role was to demonstrate the skills they use in their daily workplace in a bid to encourage the children to do the same.

But equally important, the day showed the pupils – in a fun and interactive way - that co-operation and negotiation, making choices and taking risks, planning and teamwork are all essential tools needed to succeed in business.

There were prizes on the day in the following four categories: Winning Team, Environmental, Health and Safety and Special Commendation.

Tim Jones, partner at Higgs and head of the firm’s corporate social responsibility programme (CSR) said: “We were delighted to host this successful learning activity day in partnership with the Rowley Learning Trust.

“The children were incredibly well behaved and their energy and enthusiasm proved infectious to all of the Higgs colleagues who took part.

“Being a part of the community where we work is really important to us here at Higgs. To be able to give these young people an insight into working in the ‘real world’ as well as offering something back to the local community was both a privilege and a delight. And who knows, these boys and girls may well be the business leaders of the future!”

The Rowley Learning Trust is a non-profit making organisation without shareholders, but funded by contributions from the five schools. It promotes an aspirational, ethical partnership with the shared values of promoting enjoyment and enrichment for the whole community to enable learners to benefit from high quality teaching and learning.

Higgs & Sons employs more than 230 people including more than 100 specialist lawyers. For more details about the firm’s CSR programme contact Tim Jones on 0345 111 5050 or email tim.jones@higgsandsons.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Taylor .