Briefly describe the goal that led your organisation to EBP South.
It was me. I started STEM Ambassador Volunteering for EBP South in February 2019 when events were being posted and held close to my work or living location via the STEM Learning website. Then in 2022 when started working for Ensign, Colas, started engaging with my Company and other Colleagues to volunteer, and particularly when was asked for me to assist and/or to find additional volunteers when close to events when number were short.
In addition, Ensign & Colas have a Social Value Policy for volunteering in the community. And recently this year, Colas added targets under their Social Value Policy to help and encourage employees to volunteer, but I don’t need it.
Why did you choose to work with EBP South?
In February 2019 when events were being posted and held close to my work or living location via the STEM Learning website.
As I am a formal STEM Ambassador with STEM Learning which posts STEM Events of volunteering.
What actions/activities have taken place with EBP South to reach your goal?
STEM Fairs, Interview Ready, Employer Interviews, Speed Networking & Who Dunnit! volunteering events.
“When they do well in interviews, and seeing their confidence grow during the interview, particularly for the nervous and lower confident students. When I see really well produced formatted CVs. When I see the students are interested, and the ones with great questions, and some of the amazing things they do in school and out of school. Also, if/when they find civil engineering, specifically structural engineering of interest, and bridges.”
What has been the most valuable aspect of working with EBP South, and why?
For me it’s not giving back, as I did not have any of these events and a bit of low self confidence that I did think I could do what I do at a University even though I had the grades, as well as, financially as didn’t know the financial options, that you can get student loans to pay later and or studying at university part-time and working full-time.
So I do it to give students the options of speciality areas under civil engineering, in the course and future roles, giving the encouragement and confidence to do what they want to do, if that’s what they want to do, if they have the grades, confidence and inspiration to do or improve grades to get there, and can start at college and then change to university course later if they want later, and that there are options available to work around to do what they want to do, which I didn’t have or know.
Would you recommend that others work with us, and if so, why?
Absolutely!
Encouraging more people to volunteer will help give students the experience, options of courses, finance, roles, confidence and inspiration to find what they want to do and how to do it.
“Being able to assist you and students to do what you are doing and what they want to do and/or knowledge to find what they want to do and do it. Making your professional a passion as well, not just a job, and assisting, encouraging and inspiring others to assist providing knowledge and options to encourage and inspire the students.”
What call to action would you give to other organisations considering working with EBP South?
To have or produce a Social Value Policy for volunteering in the community and add targets under their Social Value Policy to help and encourage employees to volunteer.
Also, encourage employees to become formal STEM Ambassadors with STEM Learning, not just for being able to look for events near where they work or live, but they also have training webinars available to assist in giving advice about STEM volunteering and about guidance regarding speed networking like ‘Getting Started as a Volunteer, ‘This Is Me’, Getting Started as a Climate Ambassador and other training webinars.
