Social value projects at Metis: Inspiring future engineers in Southwark schools

At Metis, we’re always looking for ways we can make a positive impact as a company on local communities, the environment, and the world at large. One of the ways we do this is through our wide range of social value projects.

One such project formed part of our contract with Southwark Council, who tasked us with hitting several social value targets that give back to local communities in London, impact change, and make a difference.

So, we decided to carry out a number of educational workshops with local students who live in the Peckham and Camberwell areas of London. See what we’ve been getting up to over the last few years below!

Unlocking opportunities

Our research found that most students in year 9 and 11 enrolled in The Sacred Heart School in Camberwell and St.Thomas The Apostle in Peckham didn’t have access to adults with engineering backgrounds.

That’s why we aimed to expose these students to engineering and all the possibilities this career path brings, discussing all the opportunities they tap into if they wish to explore this industry.

During our workshops, we informed the students of our work experience, apprenticeship, internship, and graduate opportunities here at Metis.

Running CV workshops

Our team also conducted CV workshops with the students to advise them on what to include (and what not to include) on their CVs, things employers are looking for, and the best formatting, length, language, etc., for a winning CV and cover letter.

We showed them examples of CVs that will capture the attention of future employers, helped them spruce up their current CVs and cover letters, and showed them how to tailor their applications to every job.

Offering mock interviews

As requested by the teachers, we also hosted some mock interview sessions for the students to help prepare them for what lies ahead.

We staged the interview questions and answers with our team to show them real-life examples of good vs. bad body language, responses, and dress code.

Our team also equipped the students with interview skills that would help prepare them for any job interview they attend, not just one in the engineering field.

Building awareness

Many students had some knowledge of traditional engineering (building bridges and roads, etc.) but didn’t realise the breadth of projects that fall under civil and environmental engineering fields.

Our team gave unique educational sessions around the many facets of engineering and the work we do, like flood risk management, project management, and quantity surveying, to broaden their horizons.

And the students loved it!

We received fantastic feedback from the teachers and the students about their interactive workshops with Metis. Many students told us they are now genuinely considering engineering as their career path, which is a fantastic result.

If you’re looking for a sustainability-focused civil and environmental engineering consultancy to partner with you on your next social value or engineering project, please get in touch with us today.