School career team is recognised for hard work yet again in run-up to ten year anniversary

The 'Futures Team' at Blackpool Sixth Form College, who give advice to students on further education and employment, recently received national praise from The Careers and Enterprise Company and the Association of Colleges.

The company recognised the way that Blackpool Sixth has incorporated career and employability skills into everything the college does.

The college careers team is made up of Sam Forsyth, Sian Roberts, and Debbi Hodson, who has been recognised individually for her work.

Debbi is the college’s head of careers and learning resources and has been named as a 'Career Champion' by the Career and Enterprise Company.

Career Champions are described as ‘brilliant practitioners of careers guidance for young people' by The Careers and Enterprise Company.

"This has been wonderful news and I am extremely proud of the work we have done over the years, embedding quality careers into the college community," Debbi said.

"This September, the Futures Team looks forward to their 10 year anniversary as the central contact point for careers provision and they have gone from strength to strength.

"The recognition is testament to their continued shared vision for providing the best opportunities for our students with superb support for career decision-making.

"Career guidance and advice is something that really threads through the whole of the college and, as a result, our young people can experience a multitude of opportunities helping to secure positive next steps and subsequent destinations."

Since 2017, the college has had a strong partnership with local Enterprise Adviser Lisa Scargill, from Inspira, who has helped the careers team to forge industry links and help to build students' employability.

Last year, the college's long-running Career Ready initiative won a regional and national award for linking students and businesses, providing students with internships and mentoring.