Magazine - Annual visit by Beacon Hill School Students to Ransomes Jacobsen

By Peter Driver in Industry on 5th Jun 2007 9:00

The annual visit by students with special educational needs from Beacon Hill School in Ipswich to the Ransomes Jacobsen head office and manufacturing plant at Ransomes Europark took place recently. Ransomes Jacobsen is a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT).

Two groups of students toured the factory and were shown all the processes that go into the manufacture of modern, professional grounds care equipment. This was followed by a presentation from Scott Forrest, one of the company's Region Sales Managers, who explained how the Ransomes Jacobsen organisation worked, both here in the UK and throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East. To ensure an understanding was achieved, Scott prepared a lighted hearted quiz for the students to undertake.

Ransomes Jacobsen has close ties with the school through Lynne Stone, a former employee of the company, who is PA to head teacher David Stewart. The visit was part of a 'work awareness' programme, which provides the students with an insight into the working environment after they leave school.

Commenting on the visit, David Stewart said,
"We need support from local businesses and our thanks go to everyone at Ransomes Jacobsen for continuing to make these visits possible. It is very important that we provide our students with as many 'real world' opportunities to broaden their outlook and inspire them to achieve."

Read more articles in Industry, by Peter Driver or from June 2007.