Derby College Teams Up with Derby Museums For Latest Employer Academy

Derby College has teamed up with Derby Museums to provide additional opportunities for Travel and Tourism and Creative Arts students based at the Roundhouse and the Joseph Wright Centre.

The Derby Museum Employer Academy joins more than 20 other partnerships with local and regional businesses and organisations with students applying to be part of a year-long programme including guest speakers, special projects, work placements and mentoring support.

Many employers also offer interviews at the end of the year for any job vacancies, apprenticeships or internship opportunities available to the students and provide references for the young people’s future job searches.

One of the first activities will be tours of Derby Museum and Art Gallery, Pickford’s House and to learn more about the future re-development plans for the Silk Mill which will be completed in 2020.

And the projects already in discussion include a drama piece involving Performing Arts students and inspired by the different galleries at the museum.

There will also be guest lectures on a wide range of topics including the importance of retail and customer care and the challenge of providing free access to cultural attractions whilst still remaining financially viable.

Derby Museums Visitor Services Manager Janine Derbyshire said: “As a major cultural visitor attraction we were keen to support young people with their career ambitions and aspirations and give them a wider insight into the opportunities available to them in the visitor economy.

“We have worked with the College on several occasions so the Employer Academy formalises our partnership and is an exciting step forward.

 “A key aspect of the work that the students will be involved with is developing flexible and transferable skills that are vital amongst our own staff and therefore important for the young people to appreciate as part of their future working lives.

“I am particularly looking forward to getting input from the students on how they think we can encourage more young people to visit Derby Museums.”

April Hayhurst Derby College Deputy Principal – Employer and Economic Affairs, added: “Developing skills in the visitor economy is a key objective for the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

“The insight and employability skills that our students will gain through their involvement with Derby Museums will be a fantastic way of developing these individuals and also feeding new ideas into the curriculum for a wider cohort of young people.

“We are very grateful to Derby Museums and indeed all of the businesses and organisations involved in our pioneering Employer Academy programme who recognise that inspiring and engaging with young people and their potential future workforce makes good business sense.”