B. Braun and Astrea Academy Trust establish new education partnership

A new education partnership between B. Braun Medical Ltd and Astrea Academy Trust has been launched to help guide students on their further education and career paths.

The partnership aims to raise awareness of career opportunities across the medtech and healthcare sectors, equipping Astrea students with practical skills and knowledge around available job opportunities.

The Sheffield-based healthcare company is supporting Astrea’s Business Club initiative, an exciting collaboration of business and education. As part of this, a range of B. Braun employees visited Astrea Academy Dearne in Barnsley to talk to students about their job roles, as well as apprenticeships, and career opportunities.

Geraint Evans, field service engineering manager at B.Braun Medical, said: “As a former apprentice and with over 30 years of experience, it was fantastic to represent the company and hopefully inspire the next generation of technicians and engineers.

“The questions, the feedback and even just the smiles on the students’ faces as I demonstrated one of our devices and explained what engineers carry out were fantastically rewarding!”

Catherine Carruthers, director of careers, guidance & student leadership at Astrea Academy Trust, said: “The Astrea Business Club is a unique partnership between Astrea schools and a wide range of regional and national employers.

“We are committed to working with business partners to meet their needs while also giving students new experiences and opportunities that will help them develop the skills they need in later life.

“We are delighted that B. Braun is contributing to our ambition to make employers are integral part of school life, inspiring our children to make aspirational and informed decisions about their future.

“The involvement and commitment from the business we work with to our young people through mock interviews, networking events and employability skills days has shown a tangible increase in student confidence, aspiration and development of opportunity awareness.”

Award-winning B. Braun Medical is also working in partnership with Sheffield City Council’s See it Be it in Sheffield campaign, to raise careers awareness and aspiration of the different jobs and career options that are available in the city.

Braun employees are going into several schools and colleges to talk to and mentor students, help conduct mock interviews and attend careers events.

Katie Gollick, talent acquisition advisor at B. Braun, said: “Deciding what you want to be when you grow up is a huge and very daunting task for students. When determining whether to move on to further education, undertake an apprenticeship or enter the world of work, students are often provided with little guidance into the endless possibilities in which direction they can start and grow their careers.

“It was great to see so many of our staff volunteering to give something back to the local community; guiding and inspiring students by sharing their expertise and personal work experience to help them to identify and build the skills they need for their future careers.”