This week Aircon Group welcomes three fully funded interns for the summer months; a master’s student from Teesside University and two A-level students from NEETA Training and Prior Pursglove College, who have joined us through the Career Ready programme.
Teesside University offers excellent courses and a fantastic array of qualifications but practical experience is just as important and as an employer we understand how important it is for these young people to experience the real world of work.
Ray has joined us with a master’s in Mechanical Engineering, he said: “When I saw the intern vacancy for Aircon Group I applied straight away. I read the website and thought that the company could offer me the experience I need. The size of the company is similar to what I would like to work in and they offer a range of services.”
Liam is studying Electrical Engineering, he is taking part in Career Ready and as part of his course he receives support from a one-to-one mentor, attends workshops and takes part in a work experience placement to help boost his career opportunities in the future.
Erica Legg, Sales and Marketing Manager said: “I first met Liam on Teams to have a chat about Aircon Group and the placement he had applied for. I was very impressed by his knowledge of the company and the research he had already done online.” Liam is working with the service and maintenance team assisting with bio-cleans and AirSafe and will then move on to support the heating team when they are busy in schools during the holidays.
Career Ready was set-up in 2002, by leading business figures who had a mission to improve social mobility. They ultimately want to give young people a platform to shine and their abilities flourish. After seeing an appeal on LinkedIn for local placements we contacted the charity to find out more and the values of the charity aligned well with the values of Aircon Group.
James Farrell, Design and Contracts Manager said: “I completed a placement during my studies at PD Ports. The first week was very paperwork and policy driven but in the following weeks I attended meetings and really got stuck into the job. The experience I gained was invaluable and I realise it is important for Aircon Group to offer other young people in the region similar opportunities with ourselves.”
Aircon Group were hoping to also have placements in their Goldthorpe office, however Career Ready didn’t have a college close enough and the office could not be accessed easily by young people reliant on local transport. This is something that we need to look into as young people in South Yorkshire should be afforded the same opportunities as young people in the Tees Valley.
Lucas attends Prior Pursglove College and is studying Business Administration, he said: “I liked the sound of the Aircon Group placement because it offered the opportunity to work in admin, accounts and sales. I wanted to get more experience in an office environment.”
As we approach the end of the first day, Ray has been working on complex formulae for the Contracts team, Liam was last seen loading vans with gas before heading out on a job and Lucas has contacted existing customers by phone to ensure that we have their most up to date contact details.
The support that interns can give us is often underestimated but with a good plan in place, a structured timetable and some allowance for trial and error, we witness these young interns adding value to our business.
