Graduates flying in business class

HEADS for business . . . MP Michael Meacher is pictured with Career Academy graduates, from left, Josh Thompson, Matthew Kulakowski, Arron Frost, Niall Lambert, Billy Cooney, Tom Davies and Luke Naylor

SEVEN business students have become the latest graduates of Oldham College’s Career Academy.

They were presented with certificates by Sir Winfried Bischoff, former chairman of the global financial services firm Citigroup, during a ceremony at Westminster.

Michael Meacher, MP for Oldham West and Royton, also attended.

Career Academy UK is a national, two-year scheme to raise the aspirations of 16 to 19-year-olds and includes a six-week internship with firms such as Innovative Technology, Lloyds TSB, The Bank of New York Mellon and BUPA.

The latest Career Academy graduates from Oldham College are Billy Cooney, Tom Davies, Arron Frost, Niall Lambert, Josh Thompson, Luke Naylor and Matthew Kulakowski.

They are studying for a BTEC National certificate in business, equivalent to three A-levels.

Arron (18) from Saddleworth said: “I found my internship at the Bank of New York Mellon to be an amazing and valuable experience.

“My best day was when I got the opportunity to work on actual client queries. I had to investigate why a client hadn’t received due funds.

“I was contributing to the team and I knew I was helping them out.”

He has been offered a job in client services with the bank while classmate Josh Thompson (18), also from Saddleworth has also landed a customer assistant position with Lloyds TSB.

He said: “I was given all the support I needed and I was treated like a member of the Lloyds TSB team.

“It has helped me to build my confidence and it has taught me a lot about dealing with a wide range of customers.”

Some 95 per cent of Career Academy students go on to higher education or equivalent training, compared with 40 per cent who were predicted to do so before joining the programme.

John May, chief executive of Career Academy UK, said: “In this time of global recession, it is more important than ever that our young people have relevant work-related skills and experience.

“We wish the class of 2009 at Oldham College all the best in the future.”