Students from Arrow Vale High School in Redditch visited multi temperature supply chain specialists, Oakland International, as part of their applied business studies assignment, spending the morning questioning the team on a range of internal and external business aspects influencing trade.

As part of their support of the Business in the Community initiative, Oakland International Human Resources and Purchasing Director, David Hoey, stated: “We are wholly committed to the Business in the Community initiative and are always delighted to support interaction and dialogue with local schools and colleges. Any educational initiative linked to the workplace has to be highly beneficial to both the students and to businesses alike. We hope that the students found seeing and experiencing what a real life business is like useful to their projects and we have invited them back next year to share their work with us so that we can learn from them.”

Known for their active promotion of community and educational links with business, the company has supported Arrow Vale students over a number of years and keenly promotes business and employability skills as critical to students’ future success in their chosen careers.

Steve Last, Subject Leader for Business at Arrow Vale said: “The A level students gain a tremendous insight into the operations of the business which is required if they are to produce a high quality assignment.The data collected enables them to meet all the coursework objectives. We are very grateful to Oakland for all their continued support and commitment over the years.”

A multi-award winning company, this year alone securing the award for Best Logistics at Ireland’s Checkout National FMCG Awards and the UK Business Initiative of the Year award at The Grocer Gold Awards, Oakland International works with wholesalers, manufacturers, producers and independent and multiple retailers.