News
Working with SATRO to grow education opportunity
A recent donation to SATRO’s BTEC Programme has facilitated the provision of educational opportunities that support the development and skill enhancement of secondary school and college students.
SATRO, a charity that focuses on educating young people of all backgrounds and abilities in science, technology, business practice and associated skills, works with schools across south central England to provide resources and experiences.
Its long-established mission is to provide inspirational learning across 3 key areas of focus:
- Delivering BTEC level 1 construction qualifications, practical construction workshops and SEN skills training from children to young adults.
- Engaging students and schools to partake in workshops, multi-school challenges, events and research projects which bring STEM learning and careers to life.
- Partnering with businesses to help mentor, challenge perceptions and prepare students for their next steps in education, training or employment.
The donation of £8,500 has enabled Bohunt Wokingham and East Hampstead school, as well as Garth Hill College, all local to our Thames Valley office in Wokingham, to join the Construction BTEC program as new participants. These opportunities will play an instrumental role in building skills and inspiring future tradespeople.
In line with our Social Value commitment to building future generations, however, Thakeham’s support of SATRO goes beyond financial. We actively engage in a variety of SATRO initiatives that encourage young people to reach their full potential. Thakeham team member Jonathan, for example, is a volunteer mentor, working alongside Waverley Borough Council’s team of mentors to support students at Rodborough School, Godalming.
Together, they assist students local to a Godalming scheme, Ockford Ridge, that Thakeham is developing in partnership with Waverley Borough Council. This scheme is in the third phase of a wider re-development of the Ockford Ridge estate that will provide new social and affordable housing for the community.
We also welcomed a placement student, Alexis, to our Thakeham Advanced team as part of SATRO’s 2022 Summer Placement Student Program. Alexis said of the experience: ‘I want to express my gratitude to both SATRO and Thakeham for the opportunity to take part in this research work placement, I learned a lot from the experience and found the topics fascinating.’
The 2022 Summer Program was such a success that Thakeham is looking forward to continuing its involvement this year.
SATRO Construction Fest 2023
On 20th April 2023, Thakeham attended the SATRO Construction Fest, an event which showcases the traineeships and college courses that are available to students, as well as facilitating career networking.
Sarah Crush, Social Value Manager at Thakeham, said: ‘It’s fantastic to see how the students tackle the different challenges they have the opportunity to take part in throughout the day. Their enthusiasm and interest are a great reminder for us about why we continue to support SATRO and its initiatives which play a crucial role in shaping the future of the construction industry.’
