Community partnerships

We are one of the largest employers in Newport and have links with local businesses and voluntary networks. We work in partnership with a number of organisations, schools and further education establishments.  

The Prince’s Trust

The Prince’s Trust gives financial and practical support to young people who need it most by developing key skills, confidence and motivation. Young people get a chance to realise their potential, our employees gain valuable career development opportunities and the whole community benefits from tangible projects with lasting impact.

For many years the Office has supported the Prince’s Trust Team Programme by delivering real projects with a real team of young people. This year the Office has entered a team in the Prince’s Trust Enterprise Project which, whilst raising money, will help individuals develop entrepreneurial ideas, leadership, communication, marketing, project management and business skills.

Business in the Community

Intellectual Property Office staff have participated in a number of Business in the Community development assignments over recent years.

Team Challenges are practical projects completed by a team of business volunteers that add value and leave a positive, lasting impression while improving leadership and team building skills. Typical projects might include enhancing community halls, landscaping gardens or play areas, improving school playgrounds or carrying out community surveys. A number of staff also participate in the Education Partnership Programme by offering practical support to address specific learning needs for primary school children.

Mentoring and interviewee skills

Mentoring in School events are designed to provide school pupils with a flavour of business in the 21st Century. These events are held throughout the year at schools locally. Staff from the office will visit schools to provide students with advice about application form writing and how to conduct themselves at interview. This initiative has also been delivered by staff to help educate and prepare young offenders in finding employment upon their release from prison.

Young Enterprise

Young Enterprise is a national education charity founded in 1963 to forge links between schools and industry. Each year the Young Enterprise run a Business Company Programme which enables young people aged 15-19 to develop their business skills, knowledge, drive and enthusiasm through setting up and running their own company over the course of an academic year. At the end of the year, the young Enterprise companies have the opportunity to enter a competition that runs at local, regional and national and international level. Intellectual Property Office staff volunteer as business advisors to act as role models, advisors, supporters and mentors working along side teachers and lecturers in assisting young people develop and run their company.

Wales Quality Centre

The centre was founded in 1988 as a “not for profit” registered charity with a mission to promote a world class private and public sector in Wales. Intellectual Property Office have been members for a number of years and staff have attended a number of their training programmes and master classes and also participated in the Inside Welsh Industry visits. The aims of these visits include; sharing best practise, generating new ideas, driving forward improvements to achieve results, introducing processes for change, releasing the potential of organisations and creating networks.

Work placements

We continue to work very closely with Careers Wales by offering work experience placements for students. In addition, through Business Dynamics we arrange awareness visits to the Office for groups of school children.

In October 2007 we offered a 10 week employment placement to an individual from SCOPE Cymru. This Government funded programme is designed to help people with disabilities gain valuable experience and enhance their skills in a real office environment. This placement was so successful and valuable to the individual that in partnership with SCOPE, we agreed to extend the placement until the end of March 2008

Involvement with schools

Our Schools Intellectual Property Support (SIPS) team visits local schools promoting Intellectual Property (IP) and encouraging pupils to be creative. We also have a free educational resource for schools called THINK Kit.