Hull’s employer-led school, Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC), has teamed up with one of the city’s leading businesses to empower the next generation of women as they prepare to take their first steps into the world of work.
The school has joined forces with the UK’s leading safety products and services business, Arco, to deliver a new female mentorship programme – Empower Women Now.
The initiative aims to support the success of young females who are looking to forge a career in sectors such as STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) that are largely male-dominated.
By connecting women professionals from Arco, who are already operating in these fields, with female students from Ron Dearing UTC, the programme aims to support personal growth and assist the students in developing skills and working towards their career goals.
Hull-based Arco is a Major Partner of the UTC, and Arco Non-executive Director, Richard Martin, is Chair of the school’s Governing Board. Arco team members regularly participate in career workshops and sessions at the school. The new programme takes the partnership a step further and deepens the company’s commitment to supporting young people in its home city.
The programme was inspired after Arco Employee Experience Coordinator, Sarah Jones, met with a focus group of Ron Dearing UTC students to learn more about what young women feel will be their biggest challenges when pursuing a career in a STEM field.
Sarah revealed: “The common concern from the students was clear – ‘how do we know STEM careers are achievable if we don’t see women where we want to be?’
“Seeing is believing and it was apparent that female students are desperate to see women in established careers in STEM-based roles.
“It’s clear that there is much more that needs to happen to encourage females into the STEM sector and into leadership positions. Women have a responsibility to make themselves more visible and keep the passion ignited in the younger female generation, to encourage them to pursue their goals.
“To accelerate action and continue our dialogue to support the female student population at Ron Dearing, we decided to launch a woman-to-woman mentorship programme, and we were delighted to see so many of our Arco colleagues come forward to volunteer their time to help the next generation.”
As part of the programme, students have been partnered with a mentor from Arco who they meet with weekly for one-to-one sessions, providing them with a safe space to ask questions, seek advice and gain insights into working in STEM.
Throughout the programme, the pairs have been guided on suggested topics, such as personal development, preparing for interviews and writing job applications, while also being encouraged to set their own agendas and explore topics which are of most benefit to each individual student.
Students taking part in the programme are currently in Year 12 at the school and are primarily studying STEM subjects or have an interest in pursuing a career in a STEM-related field.
Aspiring accountant Katie Elder, 17, is among those taking part in the programme.
She said: “The mentor programme has really helped me to develop my employability skills. We’ve worked on interview practice and problem solving, and I’ve started to think about my next steps.
“Speaking to someone who is in an industry that I aspire to work in has been really inspirational and has shown me that my goals are achievable.”
Hollie Haeney, Arco’s Director of Finance and Accounting, is one of the programme mentors. She said: “I’ve spent the majority of my working life in finance being the only women in the room, so I feel very strongly about empowering young women in fields where they are often under-represented.
“With over 30 years of industry experience, I want to share some of the things that have helped me over the years, as well as to help young women find their voice and confidence to enable them to accelerate in their career.”
The mentor programme is just one of the many ways Ron Dearing UTC empowers its students and prepares them for their next steps after school. The UTC works closely with many of the region’s leading employers as well as its lead education partner, the University of Hull, to provide a unique curriculum, additional opportunities and enrichment, to help students develop into well-rounded young people who are equipped to achieve their goals.
Ron Dearing UTC Assistant Principal Lisa Regan said: “This invaluable programme is all about connecting our young women with inspiring professionals from Arco, offering crucial guidance that equips them with essential skills for navigating any professional environment.
“Our students have embraced the challenge, proactively setting up their meetings, managing agendas and mastering professional conduct.
Richard Martin, Chair of the Governing Board and Non-Executive Director of Arco, added: “It’s brilliant to see the UTC students develop such vital workplace skills, building confidence and expanding their knowledge to pursue their ambitions and make a real difference in their chosen fields.
“We’re optimistic this impactful initiative will grow to support even more young women into STEM careers in the years to come.”
