Inspiration for Innovation Project : Gaia Innovation has been appointed by Silverstone Park developer MEPC to launch ‘Inspiration for Innovation’, a pilot project working with school with the aim of helping young people in the area achieve higher level skills and better career opportunities due to greater engagement with local employers. More than 20 businesses have already volunteered to take part in the project.

“This programme is part of MEPC’s Responsible Property Management programme, and it is great because we’re able to take action and do something positive to develop relationships between our business community and local schools, ultimately inspiring young people to work hard and do their best,” said MEPC’s Roz Bird, Commercial Director for Silverstone Park.

Starting in September 2018, the programme will work with three schools – predominantly Kingsthorpe College in Northampton and also Buckingham School and Silverstone University Technology College. After the pilot phase is complete, the programme will be rolled out to more schools within the local area in future years.

Students will receive up to four ‘positive interactions’ with employers during the academic year, which could include presentations, workplace visits, workshops, one-to-one discussions and work experience. The businesses will focus on the importance of core skills for employment: literacy and communication skills, numeracy and problem solving skills, personal skills, social skills, creativity skills and technology skills.

“Our philosophy is that employers, particularly those with skills deficits, are best placed to inform teachers and inspire youngsters to equip themselves with the right skills for the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR),” explained Gaia Innovation founder and Chief Executive Julia Muir.

“We introduce youngsters to the people working in these sectors and take them to see these ‘real models’ in their workplaces. We ensure the volunteering process is easy and enjoyable for the employers and measure the impact of every interaction with the school. Over the next few decades many of those opportunities will be a result of 4IR – something that Silverstone Park and its business networks, including the Silverstone Technology Cluster, are right at the heart of,” Julia concluded.

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