Welcome to Careers South West
(formerly Connexions Cornwall and Devon Ltd)
Main content
Bursary helps young people realise career dreams
A 15 year old from Exmouth has been given a helping hand to get her dream career off the ground after winning a bursary from the Connexions service.
Georgina Daugherty is one of 11 young people from Devon and Cornwall to have been awarded the Skills Challenge (previously Connexions Challenge) prize at an event held last week (12th February 2010). The annual competition aims to help young people broaden their horizons and learn from new experiences they might otherwise not have access to.
Georgina, who is studying for her GCSEs at The Maynard School, aims to have a career in finance and economics and plans to carry out a work placement with the World Bank in Washington DC, where she will work shadow the Urban Development Manager.
"I will be working in the Urban Development Department of the bank focusing on climate change and how the bank contributes to reducing the impact of this," said Georgina. "I'm really looking forward to going to America to work in the World Bank; this will be an amazing opportunity for me".
Other winners will be learning about recycling and reusing electrical equipment, working with animals at local tourist attractions, helping out on a lion environmental research trust in Zambia, shadowing snowboarding instructors, working in the parasite department at Bristol University, and gaining experience at a media production company in London.
Ian Hosker Director of Quasar Research and Consultancy Ltd, who was on the judging panel said, "This is a great opportunity to develop core competence skills through planning and executing a personal challenge. For all these young people who have risen to the challenge, this will be a life changing experience."
Organiser of Skills Challenge, Elizabeth Filmer said, "Skills Challenge gives young people the chance to try their dream job to see if it suits them.
"I'm looking forward to hearing how they all get on in their chosen industries when we meet back up for the reunion in December. I'm sure they will all gain good experiences and will be successful with their placement."
The Skills Challenge bursary of up to £500 can be used to support travel and costs of local, national and international placements. Entrants simply have to submit a business and career plan showing the judges how they plan to use their bursary to explore and test their career idea.
For further information on any issues please contact your local Connexions centre on 0800 97 55 111 or log on to www.connexions-cd.org.uk
Latest Updates
Teenagers to receive free career week
Plymouth's 13 - 18 year olds will have the opportunity to explore jobs in the healthcare and engineering sectors this August, as part of a programme called Plymouth Summer Mix.
Apprentice’s unexpected present
A local young man, who recently celebrated his 18th birthday, received an unexpected present after winning an iPod shuffle in a draw held by the local Connexions centre in Exeter.
