Ceramic and design students have been given a boost with a
week's work experience at leading pottery company Emma
Bridgewater.
Based in the Bridgewater studio in Stoke-on-Trent, design studio
manager Leigh Willott set the students to work designing a mug,
bowl and plate set.
They were also given access to senior managers from the
commercial and operations team to find out more about the business
as a whole. And Emma Bridgewater's HR manager, Kate Ellis, gave the
students a talk about how to make the most of themselves once they
hit the job market.
"Emma Bridgewater is very keen to develop links with
universities by offering work experience projects like this because
we recognise such schemes are invaluable in offering young people
the opportunity to gain key skills. It also gives us the
opportunity to establish links with potential future employees,"
said Kate Ellis.
Five students from Staffordshire University, one from Liverpool
Hope University and one from Nottingham Trent took part in the
scheme which ran for a week from November 22nd to 26th.
Work experience is offered for students undertaking art and
design based courses - including surface pattern/textiles. As well
as a chance to gain valuable hands-on experience, students were
given a talk by Matthew Rice, the executive chairman of the
company, a factory tour and the chance to learn about pottery
decoration, including painting a piece of their own.