Transatlantic law firm Womble Bond Dickinson’s (WBD) Bristol office is to continue to support a community apprentice programme that helps develop young people’s employability by empowering them to tackle real-life social problems.
Run by national organisation Envision, the programme is an inter-school competition aimed at 14 and 15 year olds who compete in teams to raise money and awareness for a charity. A number of other Bristol firms have also backed Envision’s work in the city. 
It is designed to equip them with essential life skills, build confidence and allow them to contribute to local communities.
WBD teamed up with Envision on two cohorts in Bristol in which it worked closely with Bradley Stoke School, one at the end of last year and the second in April, when the students organised a carnival-themed fundraiser in WBD’s Bristol office and helped raise £400 for Bristol humanitarian charity Aid Box Community.
The students also took part in a ‘pitching challenge’ at the Aerospace Bristol museum where they competed with other local schools. The next cohort is due to start in September.
Meanwhile WBD Bristol office-based IT trainer Nicola Richards has been named as Envision’s Business Mentor of the Year.
She said: “Winning this award means a lot to me in so many ways and I am proud to have been a part of something so worthwhile. Being a positive role model and key mentor during the programme and to have received this recognition is not only credit to me but to all that were involved. 
“Through providing encouragement and support we allowed the students to have confidence in sharing their ideas through to implementing them which has been really rewarding for all of us.”
WBD head of recruitment Samantha Lee, pictured, added: “We are delighted to continue supporting Envision’s Community Apprentice Programme and it is great to see Nicola receive such an incredible award as this highlights the huge amount of support and encouragement she provided to the students throughout the whole process.”
WBD’s Bristol base is the second largest of its eight UK offices and employs more than 230 people. The firm also has 19 offices in the US. Envision also operates in London and Birmingham.
