Global engineering, environmental and strategic consultancy, Ricardo have pledged their support to the local community by helping students build their self-confidence and realise their potential by taking part in Dare to Dream, an inspirational programme created by the Love Local Jobs Foundation in partnership with Adur and Worthing Councils.
Delivered by programme lead and radio presenter, Jack ‘the lad’ Hayes from More Radio, the Dare to Dream programme challenges young people to change the way they think about their futures and gives them the vital life skills to achieve their aspirations.
Since March 2022, Ricardo has been working with Sir Robert Woodard Academy in Lancing to support the delivery of the programme to their students, with a focus on promoting self-awareness, resilience, mindset, gratitude, teamwork and employability.
With 300 year 9 students in attendance, Jack engages with the students in a unique way and encourages them to think differently about their futures through drawing upon his own experiences and the challenges he faced growing up.
In addition to Jack’s inspirational deliveries, five mentors from Ricardo have supported 15 students from Sir Robert Woodard Academy, offering them one-to-one guidance to help promote self-awareness, build resilience, and support employability.
Helping the pupils to think beyond the bounds of school and home can spark aspirational ideas. By sharing their own journeys, which have not always followed conventional educational and employment paths, the mentors have demonstrated that no doors are closed, and opportunities come with the desire to pursue things you enjoy and are interested in, however bold.
The Dare to Dream programme is delivered through a series of interactions with the students including Jack’s inspirational assemblies, interactive workshops and one-to-one mentoring with volunteers from Ricardo, including a visit to the Ricardo offices in Shoreham to experience a real-life working environment.
Caroline Mawdsley, Learning and Development Lead at Ricardo, said: “It was fantastic to welcome the students to Ricardo’s Shoreham Technical Centre for them to learn more about what we do and see first-hand some of our advanced, state-of-the-art, manufacturing, testing and assembly areas.
“We’re proud to be part of the Dare to Dream initiative, and our mentors have really enjoyed supporting the students to understand the potential career pathways that are open to them, including in engineering disciplines. We look forward to supporting future events as part of our ongoing partnership.”