Tech firm gives children glimpse of future careers
SUPPORT: Rose James, Director of Development at Hull Children’s University, with Rhiannon Beeson, Chief Marketing Officer at Giacom
Tech business Giacom has teamed up with Hull Children’s University to open the eyes of youngsters to exciting futures in their home city.
The company – best known as the name on Hull City’s shirts – has joined with the charity to raise the aspirations and improve the prospects of primary school children.
Under the new partnership, 90 children will visit cloud technology services provider Giacom’s offices in Hull over two days this spring to learn about the industry-leading business and the wide range of rewarding careers it offers.
The children will meet team members, including software developers, technical support specialists, network engineers and marketers, and find out what their jobs involve.
Giacom’s HR team will also carry out mock interviews with the youngsters to give them an early insight into how they can seize the opportunity for a fantastic career in their home city.
Based at Priory Park, west Hull, Giacom employs around 90 people, most of them from the city, and is passionate about supporting the local community.
Rhiannon Beeson, Chief Marketing Officer at Giacom, said: “As a local company, it’s very important to all of us at Giacom to give something back to the community.
PARTNERS: Giacom has teamed up with Hull Children’s University to help disadvantaged children in the city
“Hull Children’s University does amazing work with children right across the city, so we jumped at the chance to partner with them and lend our support.
“We’re really looking forward welcoming the children to our offices and showing them the wide range of fantastic career options open to them when they’re older. We want them to enjoy themselves, but it’s also important they take something tangible away from the experience.
“Businesses like ours, which are centred around cloud technologies, are the future and we’re hoping we can sow a seed, inspiring these children to pursue their careers in our sector.”
As a leading provider of cloud services to IT companies, multi award-winning Giacom has helped thousands of small and medium-sized businesses across the UK to grow by making best use of world-class technology.
It has become a Gold sponsor of Hull Children’s University and staff from Giacom will also accompany another group of children for what will be, for many, a once-in-a-lifetime trip to London.
Giacom will take a class of up to 35 youngsters selected by Hull Children’s University on a tour of some of the capital’s top landmarks, such as Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and Downing Street, this autumn.
Rhiannon said: “We were really excited when we heard we’d have the chance to take the children to London. Some of them have not even visited Hull city centre before, never mind the capital.
“It’s really important to us to be able to help provide the children with experiences they wouldn’t otherwise enjoy and learn from. We can’t wait to see their faces light up as we show them the sights.”
WORKING TOGETHER: Rose James, Director of Development at Hull Children’s University, centre, with members of the Giacom team
Hull Children’s University aims to build the confidence, self-esteem and aspirations of young people living in areas of high deprivation in the city by providing them with a diverse range of experiences outside the classroom.
Rose James, Director of Development at the charity, said: “We’re so grateful to Giacom because it’s partnerships like this with leading local businesses that allow us to reach and support more of the most disadvantaged children across Hull.
“The visit to Giacom’s offices will be an invaluable experience for the children and will hopefully help some of them fulfil their potential and have exciting, rewarding careers when they’re older.
“Some of these children might not have any knowledge or experience of the world of work, so won’t be aware of the amazing opportunities available to them with companies like Giacom.
“This will be a real eye-opener and something they’ll remember forever. I’d love to think that a few of them might come back for job interviews in years to come because of this experience.”
Giacom is also using its position as Hull City’s Principal Club Partner to create more never-to-be-forgotten experiences for local youngsters and their families.
Giacom is providing 100 tickets to children and their families supported by Hull Children’s University for the Tigers’ home match against Cardiff City on Good Friday, April 15. They will be treated to a special matchday experience, including goody bags and Easter eggs delivered by club mascots Roary the Tiger and Amber the Tiger.
Joe Clutterbrook, Head of Commercial and Marketing for Hull City, said: “This is just another example of how seriously Giacom takes its role in the community. We’re very proud to be working with such a great partner and I’m sure the Cardiff game will be a lot of fun for everyone.”
To find out more about Hull Children’s University, and how to support the charity, visit www.hullchildrensuniversity.com.