Amey Personal Best Initiative in Renfrewshire Schools

SBC Member Company Amey, an integrated support service provider, is launching a unique initiative in four secondary schools within the Renfrewshire PPP to inspire and motivate young people outside the top 10 – 15% high achievers to increase their educational attainment.

The Personal Best Initiative at Gleniffer High, St Andrew’s Academy, St Benedict’s High and Linwood will give pupils the opportunity to hear from successful Businessmen, Chief Executives, Politicians and Entrepreneurs.

Up to twenty pupils from each of the secondary schools will be selected on a rotational basis to attend the working lunches and listen to Guest Speakers, who will deliver talks on the importance of education and training. The opportunity will enable pupils to gain valuable knowledge that will make them more employable after leaving school.

The initiative is designed to reward pupils who have shown improvement in their studies, either by demonstrating a change in attitude or producing work that was previously thought beyond their capabilities. The speakers at the working lunches will highlight each pupil’s achievements and encourage them to have confidence in their abilities.

On a yearly basis the pupils who have attended the working lunches and continued to maintain or increase their achievement will be invited to a dinner with a top table of Guest Speakers and representatives from Amey to celebrate their success. The first dinner will take place in March 2008 and encourage participants to approach their summer exams with a positive frame of mind.

A prize draw and presentation will be held at each event.

There are believed to be over 35,000 young people in Scotland between the age of 16 and 19 who are not in education, employment or training. Sir Robert Smith, the Scottish Business in the Community Prince’s Ambassador in Scotland, is intending to persuade more businesses like Amey to take Corporate Social Responsibility more seriously and launch initiatives that will engage young people in education and increase employability.