In normal times, this provision would be hosted face-to-face and provide an opportunity for young people to learn vital skills from the Mitie Foundation. However, due to the difficulties posed by covid-19 these sessions will be going virtual and will be delivered online so that this opportunity is not missed.
HITZ is Premiership Rugby’s award-winning education and employability programme which works with over 2,000 14 to 18 year-olds across England every year. BBCF have been delivering the HITZ programme for two years and have worked with around 30 participants during this time.
Nationally, HITZ has so far engaged almost 16,000 people with 70% of participants going on to achieve a positive progression into further education, training or employment and 80% reporting an improvement in personal, social and physical well-being.
HITZ uses rugby’s core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship to get young people not in education, training or employment (NEET) back into education, training, apprenticeships and/or employment, and is delivered nationally by England’s 12 professional rugby clubs.
Alexia Tsalkitzoglou, Foundation Lead at Mitie Foundation, offered her take on the initiative ‘The Virtual Employability Sessions introduce HITZ learners to Facilities Management and the breadth of career opportunities this industry has to offer. With support from volunteers across the Mitie business, learners will hear first-hand about their career journey, useful tips and hints when applying for work and how to impress in an interview. In addition, we hope that the sessions inspire and encourage HITZ learners to explore a career in FM.’
Nick George, Bristol Bears Community Foundation’s HITZ officer, shared his thoughts on the upcoming sessions ‘We are really lucky to be able to work with The MITIE Foundation and the local staff volunteers. The team have put together a great week of live online workshops to provide the HITZ learners with valuable experience of interviews and being in a professional working environment. This will put our students in a good position as they start to consider their next steps into further education or employment this summer.’
