A media-savvy student has landed herself a job with a top manufacturing firm after impressing with her talent and enthusiasm at an SKDC Skills Summit for young people.
Hundreds of students aged 16 to 21 explored future career pathways at the Skills Summits held in Grantham and Stamford earlier this year.
One of them, Julia Fiander, left the Grantham College event as a candidate for a job that would be created especially for her at Fruehauf.
Julia, 20, who is studying for a Level 3 BTEC in Creative Media Practice at the college, said: “I attended the event run by SKDC with the intention of creating some interesting content for the college.
“To have met with such a long-standing and historic company based right here in Grantham was beyond all expectations, so to then be contacted after the event about a career opportunity, and now actually be working there, has been a dream come true.
“This would never have happened without the Skills Summit."
- Julia Fiander
For employers, the council’s Skills Summits are a chance to network and consider ways of expanding and strengthening their workforces by partnering with education providers.
David Lewington, Sales Operations Manager at Fruehauf, said: “I was just blown away by Julia’s confidence and clarity. She was super professional.
“I didn’t have a position I was looking to fill but decided to try and create a role for her.
“She attended her interview and I was instructed to hire her immediately. Julia is a real find, a real asset.”
Fruehauf invented the semi-trailer in 1908 – the same year as Henry Ford introduced the Model T motor car - and now operates from a 64-acre production facility in Houghton Road, Grantham.
Employing 170 people in Grantham, it is a leading international designer and manufacturer of bulk tipping trailers for the agriculture, aggregates, waste management and haulage sectors and crane lorries.
Julia has started part-time with the firm’s media and marketing team tasked with content creation for press, the company’s website and social media channels. She will begin full-time employment when she graduates later this summer.
Cllr Ashley Baxter, Leader of South Kesteven District Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, HR and Economic Development, said: “This is precisely the sort of introduction that our Skills Summits are designed to create for our wonderfully talented young people here in South Kesteven. Julia is clearly destined for great things.”
As a thank-you for facilitating the introduction, Fruehauf hosted SKDC’s Business and Skills Officer Rebecca Kunzi and Mel Papworth from event collaborative partner Careers Hub, on a tour of their business to discuss opportunities for apprenticeships, work experience, and community engagement.
Further Skills Summit events are planned in the future.
SKDC’s Business and Skills Officer Rebecca Kunzi, HR Assistant Jack Perry, Director of Housing and Projects Alison Hall-Wright and Office Manager Jeanette Hedison at the Skills Summit at Grantham College. Credit: SKDC