Five year 10s and Five Year 12s were invited to take part in a week of work experience at the London Borough of Hounslow Council offices. Students took part in employability workshops and were placed into different departments throughout the week. Departments included were, Finance, Legal and Lifelong Skills, Learning and Employment. Students worked towards a presentation throughout the week and then presented their work in front of senior managers at the Council and to the Leader of the Council, Cllr Shantanu Rajawat. The opportunity was invaluable and will contribute towards their life-long journey.

During my time working at the council, I truly enjoyed the opportunity to engage with the community and contribute to various projects. The experience allowed me to develop valuable skills in communication and teamwork while working alongside dedicated professionals. I appreciated the chance to learn about local governance and how decisions are made that impact residents' lives. Each day brought new challenges, and I found it rewarding to see the positive effects of our work on the community. Overall, it was a fulfilling experience that deepened my understanding of public service.

Annabella Haji [10R]

The work experience with the Local Authority was an exciting and eye-opening experience. It showed just how vast and varied the careers within the Local Authority are. A highlight for me was the morning at BYD hearing about the apprenticeship opportunities soon to be available to the young people within the Borough. I was on placement with the 14-19 service, which is a career-focused area. I was given tasks throughout the week relating to statistics in the Borough and also the YSEG bulletin which is sent to young people, careers advisors, teachers and businesses throughout the Borough. One of the articles I wrote was published recently for Green Careers Week and was in relation to my trip to BYD and another relating to my experiences while on placement in the Council is soon to be published.

Ben Rixon [12A]

My work experience with the legal team at Hounslow House was invaluable. There I learnt important soft skills, including presentation skills, during my conclusive group project we were assigned during the week. Additionally, I was also able to visit the Hounslow Registry Office and learn about the laws and legislation involved in simple marriage, birth, and death registrations. In conclusion, I gained life experience and had an amazing time!

Malishqa Kapoor [12A]

I recently took part in the London Borough of Hounslow Work Experience programme. This was an extremely insightful experience for me as I was able to apply my skills in the workplace and adjust to a new environment. I had the opportunity to work in the Communications department, which is mainly focused on developing and executing marketing approaches to effectively distribute information to residents of our borough. During the week, I wrote a piece that described Hounslow’s upcoming Halloween events to encourage residents to attend during the half-term break. I also managed to go off-site during my placement to visit West Thames College and help vocalise the importance of young people’s involvement in improving our Borough and way of living. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and now have a much more accurate idea of what skills are needed to excel in the workplace. Thank you to Mr. Naqvi and Mrs Laing for making this opportunity possible.

Alexinho Rosario [12C]