Hi, I am Rylie Sweeney, I’m an Apprentice Build Manager at Willmott Dixon Construction and a youth advisor for the Edge Foundation as well as sitting on the youth advisory boards for several other organisations.
At the beginning of March, I got an amazing opportunity to represent the Edge Foundation Youth Network in Parliament. I joined the APPG for Schools, Learning and Assessment in Portcullis House where we discussed ‘What knowledge, skills and competencies will be the most important for life and work in the 21st century and how best can they be assessed?’ The meeting and panel was chaired by MP Emma Hardy and I shared my experiences of education and training alongside Mike Nicholson, Thomas Martin and Alison Chang.
I shared my experiences in education, discussing my educational journey, reflecting in particular on my move to a technical college - UTC South Durham – which was a huge turning point in my education journey. From struggling in education and finding it a really negative environment in which I couldn’t engage or follow my desired path, at UTC South Durham I was supported and encouraged to learn the skills needed to become career ready.
I spoke about the 6 core skills that were ingrained in everything I did at UTC and how they helped me transition into an apprenticeship. I was given great opportunities at UTC which allowed me to develop core skills, such as: work experience, industry projects, mock interviews and project-based learning which have been key to my development after UTC. The everyday practices which were embedded into a lot of what I did at UTC have equipped me with the skills I now use on a daily basis. I was constantly given the opportunity to develop my core skills at UTC and to reflect, which allowed me to continue to adapt and improve.
I highlighted the importance of work experience and employer engagement for young people. We often expect our young people to make potentially life changing decisions without equipping them with the skills, experience and knowledge needed to make them. I took part in 13 work experience programmes at UTC in a variety of industries that gave me an insight into the world of work. I did work experience with Willmott Dixon in October 2021 and by the March 2022 I had applied and been accepted onto an apprenticeship with them. Without that engagement with Willmott Dixon and having the insight into the construction industry and pathways into the industry I probably would not have even known that my current career path was an option.
Everyone is different, everyone learns differently and excels differently. Mainstream education works for some people, but too many young people are failed by the system. Everyone should be supported and given the best experiences and skills to make them career ready.
