Global Agribusiness Aurivo Opens its Doors to Provide Students from Coláiste Iascaigh with a Glimpse of the Working World
AURIVO opened its doors to secondary level students from Coláiste Iascaigh as part of BITCI’s Business Action on Education Skills @ Work Programme, an initiative that encourages school completion by partnering local businesses with schools to provide senior cycle students with the unique opportunity to visit and experience first-hand the workplace. Twenty-five students were given a guided tour of the company’s facility in Ballaghaderreen by company employees and gained an insight into the many career opportunities that exist in the Food and Agriculture industry.
Representing Aurivo, a global agribusiness based in the north-west of Ireland, employing six hundred and fifty people across the geographical region Niamh Jinks, Insights and Marketing manager at Aurivo commented on the benefits of partnering with Coláiste Iascaigh as part of their participation in BITCI’s Skills @ Work Programme:
“Aurivo are delighted to welcome students from Coláiste Iascaigh to our Aurivo Dairy Ingredients plant. We hope that today provides the students with an insight into various careers and an understanding into what we do here at Aurivo Dairy Ingredients on a day to day basis. This is a fantastic project that gives our employees the opportunity to support a local school by providing this unique and practical insight into the world of work. Our team is our greatest asset and so this gives employees a platform to showcase their skills and enthusiasm about the work they do, to the workers of tomorrow.”
Feedback from participants indicates that the workplace visit is one of the highlights for students involved in the Skills@ Work programme. As well as giving the students a taste of the working world, they also experience important skills such as workplace etiquette and expected behaviour in a professional environment, one of the major adjustments needed in moving from school to the working environment.
A student from Coláiste Iascaigh speaking at today’s workplace visit said:
“It was really interesting to find out more background information on Aurivo. The site tour brought it to life for me and I could understand more about the company. I realised they do a lot more than just make dairy products.”
The site visit is one of several sessions in The Skills @ Work Programme. The programme also provides CV workshops, ‘A Day in the Life’ talks, mock interviews, company overviews, interview skill techniques as well as sessions on workplace etiquette and teamwork. Feedback from participant companies indicates that employees are gaining a huge amount from participating in the programme, including improving their own listening, communication and interpersonal skills. The programme is importantly helping the companies engage with their staff and local communities. Employees at Aurivo are committed to assisting the students recognise the value of completing the Leaving Certificate and helping them explore possible career paths.
Maeve Kelly, Principal speaking about today’s visit added: “It’s invaluable for our students to get the opportunity to go behind the scenes at Aurivo, to meet professionals in their workplace and to see how processes works from end to end. It adds to their experience and learning and gives them a greater understanding of how a business operates.”