200th School Milestone Achieved by BITCI

Uncategorized - Mar 03, 2015

On February 4th 2015, we launched our 200th partnership in the historic Aula Maxima Room of NUIG’s famed Quadrangle. The Schools’ Business Partnership programme has successfully partnered 200 schools across Ireland with companies to improve secondary level completion rates. Enterprise Rent-A-Car will partner Gairmscoil na bPiarsach, Ros Muc, through SBP’s Skills @ Work programme.

BIC Enterprise (1 of 11)

Speaking at the launch at NUIG, Galway, George O’Connor, Managing Director, Enterprise Rent-A-Car commented:

We are delighted to be involved in such a landmark occasion for BITCI’s Schools Business Partnership Programme. We are also pleased to have the opportunity to give students from Gairmscoil na bPiarsach, Ros Muc an insight into the world of work and help them understand the practical elements of employment and the benefits of remaining in education. They will get an opportunity to see exactly what we do at the Enterprise Rent-A-Car facility in Galway and the contribution of varying staff roles within the company. We look forward to working with the students from Gairmscoil na bPiarsach in the coming months.”

Pictured (above right): George O’Connor, Managing Director, Enterprise Rent- a- Car and Gairmscoil na bPiarsach, Ros Muc students

Research shows that if a student can aspire to a career and see the link between education and work, then they are much more likely to complete their education to Leaving Certificate. Since its foundation in 2001 BITCI’s Schools Business Partnership has contributed to Ireland’s secondary school retention rate increasing from 80 per cent to 90.3 per cent.

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 further helping the companies engage with their staff.

Since its foundation in 2001 the programme has successfully reached many milestones, including 129 companies participating, 200 schools matched and 309 school business links established. Over 25, 000 students have participated to date in the Skills @ Work Programme with a total of 28, 000 of students availing of this valuable support in all of our programmes to date.

Over the coming months, the students from Gairmscoil na bPiarsach, Ros Muc will have the opportunity to learn more about Enterprise Rent-A-Car and its business through a series of sessions, workshops and a site visit.  In turn, Enterprise-Rent-A-Car will work with the students to help them understand the practical elements of employment, such as applying for jobs, presenting for interviews and being a good employee.

BIC Enterprise trades (5 of 5)

BITCI report that 96 per cent of the 3,190 students who took part in the Skills @ Work programme nationwide during 2014 would recommend it to another student. Speaking at the launch, third level student Murella Burke, a past pupil of Scoil Pobal Mhic Dara, Carna, Co. Galway and a participant of the programme said:

“This programme helped me to prepare in a very real way for college and the outside world as I gained experience in strong interviewing skills.  I also saw how great companies develop their people.  It made a huge difference to my life.” 

Pictured (above right): Nuala Greenan, BITCI; Murella Burke and Máire Ní Dhomhnaill