BTE Announcements

On 2 April, Janssen hosted the ‘Bridge to Employment Graduation Event’ for twenty students from Highcrest Academy, a secondary school in High Wycombe.

The students have all been a part of the Bridge to Employment programme since the global initiative started in the UK three years ago, aiming to inspire young people from disadvantaged communities to stay in school, excel academically and pursue careers in science.

The graduation event brought together the students, their families, teachers and mentors past and present, to celebrate the students’ incredible achievements and personal development throughout the last three years.

The event also featured guest speakers Tallulah Self, junior film maker at Inside Job Productions, and Amber Hill, World Champion Skeet Shooter and BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year 2013, who shared their own personal challenges in their journey to success.

It was clear from their reflections during the event that the relationships formed during the programme have hugely benefited the students and mentors alike. The students spoke passionately about their best experiences over the last three years including a trip to Depuy Synthes and work experience here at Janssen.

Since it’s inception, the programme has also helped students develop valuable transferrable skills such as public speaking and feeling confident in interviews.

Mentors including Neil Ashcroft (Business Unit Director) and Caroline Lilley (Regional Business Manager, Oncology) both gave insights into how much they have learnt from the process by being challenged to step outside their own comfort zones.

It is evident that some truly special relationships have been formed from this partnership and we look forward to hearing of all the students’ successes in future.

Carmel Smith, Associate Communications Manager, Janssen UK