THREE sixth formers were looking forward to learning from the leaders of Cumbrian businesses this week.  

Ulverston Victoria High School sixth formers Ella Clarke, Tom James and Georgia Howard have all made it through the county selection process to win a Dream Placement with top employers. 

Dream Placement 2016, organised by the Centre for Leadership Performance, sees Year 12 students spend their half-term holiday week learning from leaders of more than 30 of the county’s top employers.

The UVHS trio were shortlisted after writing successful applications. They then impressed industry professionals during interviews at a selection day held at Energus.

Ella is on a Dream Placement with Costain. The 16-year-old was spending two days at the Sellafield site and three days in Manchester.

Ella is particularly interested in business, marketing and public relations.

She said: "It's really good that my Dream Placement is being tailored to my interests. I'm particularly interested in business, marketing and public relations and Costain have really taking that into account.

"I'm really looking forward to the Dream Placement. It is really good to build contacts and having industry experience."

Tom, 17, who is at Doosan Babcock, at the Sellafield site, said: "I want to see as much of the business as I can, this will give me an insight in the types of work I could do in the future.

"It will open my eyes to different opportunities and I will meet leaders who have made a success of themselves, find out how they got to where they are and see what I can aspire to.

"The process has been very usual so far. It was like applying for a job, with the application and the interview. I had three interviews on the day." 

Georgia, 16, is at NSG Environmental, Cleator Moor, where she has a problem-solving project to complete.

She said: "I'm really excited, I think it will be a good opportunity.

"I want to have a first hand experience of what it is like to work in a big company. I also want to see how science is used in industry. I also want to learn about leadership skills.

I haven't had an interview before so that was very good."