Going back to school!

11 November 2010

Around 40 of our most senior managers will be donning their rucksacks and heading back to school and college as part of a new educational campaign in England to strengthen partnerships between education and business.

Visit our Schools Week is an initiative run by the Education and Employers Taskforce – an independent charity based in England. Our CEO, Sir John Rose, is a Trustee of the Education and Employers Taskforce and believes passionately in giving young people a good start in life.  

Tony Wood, President of Gas Turbine Services, has already taken part by visiting the top performing Pate’s Grammar School in Cheltenham. During his visit, Tony discovered that the most popular career path for a Pate’s student is medicine at 18 per cent, and that only six per cent pursue an engineering pathway. 

Reflecting on his visit, Tony said: “The Rolls-Royce corporate video had a very positive impact on the head teacher and staff, and prompted a range of questions about how the school might explore opportunities to engage further with us to help students learn more about careers in engineering and technology in an inspirational way.”  

Projects and events like these are organised by our Community investment Team, who play a key part in delivering the company’s strategy by investing in the science skills we need; engaging employees and encouraging a sense of loyalty and pride and building mutually beneficial relationships in the communities in which we operate.

Nicola Swaney, Education Manager in the Community Investment Team, who visited Derby’s Landau Forte Academy, said: "Rolls-Royce is actively involved in a range of education projects and we are actively engaged with partners in the educational sector to inspire young people with enthusiasm for science and technology, because it can provide them with opportunities in their lives and is key to our future economic prosperity. Rolls-Royce’s support for Visit Our Schools Week is an example of the company’s active involvement in education outreach."