SEGRO, Heathrow and spark! Team up to support students at Marjory Kinnon School, Feltham
SEGRO has teamed up with Heathrow and its community partner SPARK! to deliver a series of workshops to Year 10 students with special needs at Marjory Kinnon School in Feltham, helping them develop their social confidence and interaction skills
Marjory Kinnon School is one of the largest SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) schools in the country and the initiative provides a unique opportunity for pupils to engage and help develop communication skills with two major local businesses. The project will also enable the students to hone their social skills to better prepare them for the rigours of entering further education, training and employment.
In addition to the workshops, students will be given a guided tour of Heathrow – one of SEGRO’s biggest customers – with light industrial and warehouse facilities at Heathrow Cargo Centre representing an important part of the smooth operation of the UK’s hub airport.
The project builds on SEGRO’s existing partnership with SPARK!, one of the company’s Community Investment Plan partners in the boroughs of Hounslow and Hillingdon, where customers, suppliers and SEGRO colleagues have collaborated with the charity to deliver a schools programme that supports local young people with career guidance and mentoring sessions.
The Plan is providing long-term investment in skills, employment, environmental and economic programmes to make a tangible impact to local young people in Hounslow and Hillingdon and is a key element of the company’s Responsible SEGRO commitments to boost skills, training and employment, as well as enhancing the local environment and biodiversity in the communities where it operates across the UK and Continental Europe.
Becky Coffin, Director of Communities and Sustainability at Heathrow, said:
“This is a great chance for Heathrow and SEGRO colleagues to connect with the wonderful work Marjory Kinnon does and show pupils what working life at the airport is like.
“Getting out in the community to help local young people prepare for their next step is exactly what our Giving Back Programme is all about – opening our doors so those who live closest can access the benefits of being our neighbour.”
Eva Butterworth, SEND Programme Manager at SPARK!, said:
“Our collaboration with SEGRO and Heathrow is a testament to the power of partnership in creating a lasting impact. Through this initiative, we're not just investing in the students of Marjory Kinnon School; we're investing in the future and quality of our communities. Together, we're bridging gaps, building confidence, and equipping these remarkable young individuals with the essential skills they need to thrive in the local community and kickstart their careers.”
Gareth Baker, Director, Greater London, SEGRO, said:
“This project is a fantastic example of how we are bringing our Community Investment Plan to life to make a real and tangible difference to the local community.
“We are acting as a catalyst in bringing together our commercial, charity and educational partners, pooling our expertise and resources to give a local school the opportunity for its pupils to gain an invaluable, first experience of the world of work on its doorstep.”
About SEGRO
SEGRO is a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris, and is a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses and industrial property. It owns or manages 10.3 million square metres of space (110 million square feet) valued at £21.0 billion serving customers from a wide range of industry sectors. Its properties are located in and around major cities and at key transportation hubs in the UK and in seven other European countries.
For over 100 years SEGRO has been creating the space that enables extraordinary things to happen. From modern big box warehouses, used primarily for regional, national and international distribution hubs, to urban warehousing located close to major population centres and business districts, it provides high-quality assets that allow its customers to thrive.
A commitment to be a force for societal and environmental good is integral to SEGRO’s purpose and strategy. Its Responsible SEGRO framework focuses on three long-term priorities where the company believes it can make the greatest impact: Championing Low-Carbon Growth, Investing in Local Communities and Environments and Nurturing Talent.
Striving for the highest standards of innovation, sustainable business practices and enabling economic and societal prosperity underpins SEGRO’s ambition to be the best property company.
See www.SEGRO.com for further information.
About SPARK!
Spark! is a charity with over 40 years’ experience working across west London in partnership with schools/colleges, communities and alongside a large and diverse range of local and national employers. We believe it is possible for every young person to be ready, equipped, motivated and able to enter the world of work.
We enhance young people’s employability skills, knowledge, experience and access, so that they are better prepared for and able to effectively transition into the workplace, finding and keeping a job. We do by ensuring meaningful employer engagement opportunities, high quality work experience, empowering career mentoring relationships and supported transitions into work, and with youth unemployment rapidly rising, there has never been a more important time for our services.
You can read more about Spark! and our work at www.sparkcharity.org.uk.
About Heathrow
Heathrow is Europe’s largest airport and has reclaimed a spot as one of the top 10 largest airports in the world and second largest for international travellers. The airport is home to more than 80 airlines and is Britain’s most valuable cargo port, helping to drive British trade growth by connecting the nation to more than 200 destinations around the world. Heathrow was recently ranked as ‘Best Airport in Europe’ at the Business Traveller Awards 2022.