FDBusiness.com

Reading Scientific Services (RSSL) has been shortlisted for the Food & Drink Federation Awards in the category for Education Initiative. The award is made to companies that support education about the food and drink industry within schools and colleges, and help to facilitate employment opportunities for young people.

RSSL has been active in many such initiatives for a number of years, gaining praise from organisations such as Education Business Partnership in both West and Central Berkshire, Launchpad (a homeless charity) and EDT, the largest provider of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) enrichment activities for UK youth.

RSSL’s Commercial Operations Manager, Karen Masters, notes, “Science and innovation are at the heart of long term sustainable economic growth in the UK.  As an employer of scientists at all levels, we recognised the role we could play in motivating people to look at science as a potential career opportunity.  Our programme is a holistic science outreach programme aimed at all sections of the community promoting the excitement and satisfaction of science and learning. We work with a number of different organisations communicating and educating on the important role of science in our lives.”

RSSL has worked directly with Schools, Universities and Charities to maximise its effectiveness.  Scientists from across the whole company have been involved in a wide range of projects that have seen RSSL welcome many visitors to its Reading laboratories, and also taken RSSL out into its community. Projects have included working with EDT to bring Year 9 pupils to RSSL’s site to learn about the science behind chocolate; providing work experience programmes for school pupils; running an annual intern programme; giving school leavers a route to ongoing education without going to University; providing introduction-to-work sessions for clients of a homeless charity, and many other visits to schools and community events.

“Our science outreach initiative has had a huge impact on our organisation and staff,” notes Karen. “Colleagues have benefited in many ways both from a personal and professional perspective. Individuals have been able to grow and develop their leadership, communication, facilitation, management and planning skills. Our organisation benefits from the pride that people feel in giving something back and gives us a community/family feel resulting in more positive colleague interactions at all levels from senior management to more junior staff.  Many of our technical staff are passionate about communicating science and enthusing the next generation of scientists; our programme allows them to do this within their working arenas.”

The FDF award winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in London, on September 18th.