In Leeds, DWF facilitates two community education programmes; 5 STAR Futures which is directed towards ambitious secondary school students pondering future career paths, and 5 STAR Futures Early Years which gives primary school children an insight into the world of work.
The programmes were founded by the legal business with the aim of empowering young people by developing the skills and confidence required to succeed in the workplace.
As part of the Early Years initiative, the year 6 students from Cookridge Primary School visited the DWF office in Leeds and began their day with a commute from Horsforth train station.
Over the course of the two days, the pupils explored the offices and spoke with DWF colleagues in various teams across the business.
The sessions culminated in a court room debate after which the students were provided feedback on their courtroom performance.
Speaking highly of the experience, one student said: "I've never taken part in a debate before and it was incredibly interesting learning about a workplace environment."
Another pupil said: "It was very fun, interesting and makes me curious about life in work."
Assistant head teacher at Cookridge Primary School, Nick Kershaw, discussed the programme. Speaking favourably of the school's partnership with DWF, he said: "The Leeds 5 Star Futures programme provides our children with a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight in to what working in the 'real world' may be like.
"By providing children with the chance to talk and ask questions about a job they may not have much knowledge of, it builds aspirations and allows our children to further believe they can achieve anything. The staff are fantastic with our pupils and it is a partnership we value greatly."
Jonathan Branton, office managing partner for DWF in Leeds, commented: "We are immensely proud of the 5 STAR Futures programme in Leeds and our partnership with Cookridge Primary School. Our team looks forward to participating in the 5 STAR Futures programme each year.
"The programme is not only beneficial for the pupils but it also promotes personal growth among the team as they contribute to nurturing aspirations and promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce for the future.
"Our colleagues across the business have spent more than 2,400 hours actively supporting educational and employability initiatives and we derive great joy from making a meaningful impact on the development of our young individuals, boosting their self-confidence, and expanding their knowledge of the professional world."
