Enterprise and education brought together by Cadbury

A recent seminar hosted by Cadbury, the FTSE 100 chocolate manufacturer, gave employers and schools from Birmingham’s South West the opportunity to explore the new Business, Administration and Finance Diploma being offered at Bournville College.

The seminar, part of the group’s World of Work initiative, saw Bournville School, in partnership with Bournville College, leading a discussion about the Diplomas, and Cadbury shared experiences of its World of Work Engineering & Manufacturing programme, which supports the new Diploma in Engineering.

"Our World of Work programme gives young people a sense of real-life working situations and helps them to develop personal, thinking and employability skills. We are able to support World of Work through funding from The Cadbury Foundation and through our employees, who have helped develop, and are now delivering, the programme," said Lisa Huggins-Chan, Cadbury’s head of corporate responsibility in Britain & Ireland.

Since the programme’s inception in September 2008, more than 140 students, 25 teachers and 14 schools in Birmingham and Sheffield have taken part.

Bournville College is leading the way for the development of the Business, Administration and Finance Diploma, which is one of 17 Diplomas due to be available across the UK.

Graeme Mutton, assistant headteacher at Bournville School, said: "The new Diplomas are going to change the way pupils learn. The engagement they will provide with real-life work situations will be excellent. It will raise motivation and provide credibility for what we are trying to do in school."

Alison Dickinson, South West consortium manager, added: "The Diplomas have been designed by employers, and combine theoretical study with practical activities. Learners will develop skills that are highly valued by employers and universities."