HITZ backed by rugby legends

Delivered nationally by Premiership Rugby and funded by national partners Barclays, Comic Relief, Land Rover and Wooden Spoon, HITZ uses rugby to increase young people’s resilience, self-reliance and confidence. It gives them the skills to get back into education, vocational training, apprenticeships and employment.

Spread across five different Jaguar Land Rover locations: Halewood, Solihull, Gaydon, Whitley and Castle Bromwich, the five rugby ambassadors joined representatives from regional HITZ programmes to share the award winning social inclusion programme with Jaguar Land Rover’s 29,000 employees.

Highlights from the day included Johnson attending the Solihull manufacturing facility for an exclusive tour of the Land Rover production line with members of the Leicester Tigers HITZ programme. Also in Halewood, Robinson met Sale Sharks HITZ participants and joined them on a Land Rover driving experience before touring the production line.

While at the Solihull factory, ex-England captain Johnson commented: “Jaguar Land Rover has a strong reputation as a responsible business and I think it’s great that they’re using ‘Responsible Business Week’ to increase employee engagement around all areas of sustainability.

“Land Rover’s partnership with HITZ will make a significant impact on more communities and more vulnerable young people, making a positive contribution to society.

“The HITZ team and I have had a great day, meeting employees who have so much pride in making these vehicles and learning more about their environmental and community achievements.”

Speaking at the HITZ event in Halewood, Robinson added: “The HITZ programme is close to my heart; I have been through the challenges these youngsters face, so know that through Land Rover and HITZ support they are going to get the support they need, when they need it.”

With thousands of Jaguar Land Rover employees made aware of the HITZ programme, the day’s activity was very successful. The opportunities events like these offer young people involved in HITZ are invaluable but also serve to highlight to Jaguar Land Rover’s employees what the company is doing outside their immediate business.

Following their involvement in Responsible Business Week, Oliver Veasey, a participant on the Leicester Tigers HITZ programme commented: “Getting the chance to visit the Land Rover site was a real eye opener; I had no idea it was such a huge operation and there were so many career opportunities. The driving experience was great fun and the vehicles are really impressive.

“I am getting a lot out of the HITZ programme and days like this are amazing.”

Please visit hitzrugby.com to find out more.

Article source: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Thousands-pay-online-tribute-rugby-fanatic/story-19641991-detail/story.html

HITZ backed by rugby legends