Trailblazers

Take part in a fantastic opportunity to increase your skillset, confidence and professional network, while also raising money for an excellent cause.

About our Trailblazers programme

Trailblazers is our new personal development and fundraising programme, which is replacing our hugely successful Business for Life programme.

What will you do?

You will work alongside seven other people to plan, organise and run a fundraising event in support of WaterAid.

You will also give updates at the quarterly Wessex for Africa Business Breakfasts, which are attended by senior leaders at Wessex Water and key supply chain partners.

What will you learn?

You will benefit from soft skills training, including:

  • giving presentations
  • effective communication
  • conflict management
  • event management.

How long will the programme run for?

The programme will run for seven months, starting with a launch event on 3 June 2024 and concluding with one big fundraising event in January 2025.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible, you must be a Wessex Water employee or an employee at one of our Wessex for Africa supply chain partners.

You must also be able to spend two working days a month and some evenings and weekends on the project.

Your line manager will be expected to play an active role, so please check they are happy for you to be involved.

The programme is suitable for people who:

  • are serious about progressing their career
  • would benefit from further practical experience and training
  • want to build their confidence and expand their professional network
  • are committed, enthusiastic and hard-working.

Information for line managers

Participants will require support from their line manager to ensure they get the maximum benefit from the programme.

Line managers will be expected to play an active role in encouraging and supporting any participants, including, but not limited to:

  • releasing them from work for two days per month on average
  • allowing participants to attend team meetings or complete event-related tasks
  • attending quarterly Business Breakfasts to support the team when they present.

Key dates and locations

  • Applications close – 15 April 2024
  • Interviews – w/c 29 April 2024 (online)
  • Launch event – 3 June 2024 (location TBC)
  • Training – 13 June 2024 (Yeovil) and 5 July 2024 (Bath)
  • Race night volunteering – 14 June 2024 (Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol)

Applications are now closed

Applications for our Trailblazers programme are now closed. We will contact you if your application is successful.

If you have any questions

For an informal chat about taking part in the programme, please contact one of our Trailblazer Project Managers:

Andrew Cockram
Email: Andrew.cockram@wessexwater.co.uk
Phone: 07900 137392

Kerry Wyatt
Email: Kerry.Wyatt@wessexwater.co.uk
Phone: 07788 353966

WaterAid is a registered charity (number 288701 in England and Wales and SC039479 in Scotland).