When schools and businesses come together

When schools and businesses come together

Gloria and Silvia’s testimonies highlight the value of a formative experience at Dispotech

When the worlds of education and business come together, an opportunity for growth arises that goes beyond the period of the work placement itself. 

For students, this means engaging with the world of work, discovering how it works and gaining a better understanding of their own future; for the company, this is an opportunity to share expertise, listen to new perspectives and strengthen its ties with the local community.

It is in this spirit that Dispotech welcomes students every year as part of the Programmes for Transversal Skills and Career Guidance (PCTO), in the belief that fostering dialogue between schools and businesses represents a valuable opportunity for everyone.

Over the past few weeks, we have had the pleasure of hosting Gloria and Silvia. Two different experiences, united by the same curiosity to put themselves to the test, and the desire to find out what goes on every day within a company. 

Beyond production: Gloria’s perspective

For Gloria, the work placement was, above all, a process of discovery. 

She had heard quite a lot about Dispotech from her mother – who works in production – and thought she already knew quite a lot about the company. In fact, when she walked into the offices, she discovered a whole new world.

What struck her most was realising how each department constitutes part of a single process, in which very different activities intertwine on a daily basis. 

From the management of raw materials to the relationship with customers and suppliers, and from internal organisation to logistics, every function contributes to the final result. 

A system in which collaboration, communication and organisation are essential elements.

One of the experiences she remembers most fondly is also overcoming a small personal challenge. 

At first, answering the phone seemed like a difficult task; as the days went by, however, it became one of the activities she enjoyed the most, because it allowed her to talk to different people and gain more confidence. 

Attending a meeting and observing the company’s marketing activities at close quarters also enabled her to discover all the work that remains unseen from the outside, viewing it from a completely new perspective.

If she had to sum up these two weeks in a few words, she would choose "novelty and curiosity".

Two concepts that aptly describe a journey marked by small challenges, new skills and greater confidence in her own abilities. As she herself advises anyone about to embark on a work placement: "Don't be afraid to try new things, and treat every experience as an opportunity to learn."

Discovering the value of people: Silvia’s experience

Silvia also joined Dispotech with a very different idea of how a company worked.

She thought the structure was relatively simple; instead, day by day, she discovered an organisation made up of numerous departments, each with its own specific areas of expertise and closely linked to the others.

One of the areas that most piqued her curiosity was the department responsible for foreign trade and procurement management. 

She had the opportunity to gain insight into just how much precision, planning and attention to detail are required, even in tasks which may seem much simpler than they actually are when seen from the outside.

As well as the organisational aspects, Silvia will also remember the people she met above all.

From day one, she felt welcomed and involved, thanks to her helpful colleagues, the care with which the various tasks were explained to her, and the passion that each of them showed for their work. 

The atmosphere within the company truly enabled her to enjoy these past few weeks with a sense of calm and a feeling of being part of something.

The experience also helped to clear up some of the uncertainties she had about her future path, enabling her to gain a better understanding of which professional fields are most in line with her interests. 

Of all the lessons she will take away with her, one is particularly important: "Always believe in your dreams, because with hard work and dedication, anything is possible."

An opportunity with a focus on the future

Every PCTO experience is different, because the people who take part in them are too. 

And yet, a common thread emerges from Gloria and Silvia’s accounts: the realisation that at the heart of a company's work are skills, collaboration and relationships, which are often invisible from the outside, but which really do make all the difference.

For Dispotech, opening its doors to students means helping to foster this kind of awareness. 

It means offering young people the opportunity to see first hand how a company’s day-to-day work is carried out, putting what they have learned at school into practice whilst acquiring useful tools to tackle future choices with greater confidence.

At the same time, welcoming students who are curious and keen to learn also presents an opportunity for the company to grow. 

Their questions, their enthusiasm and their fresh perspective remind us just how important it is to keep sharing knowledge, creating opportunities and investing in people.

It is from experiences such as these that a meaningful dialogue between schools and businesses emerges: a path that Dispotech will continue to support wholeheartedly, in the knowledge that the future is shaped in part by the interaction between those taking their first steps into the world of work, and those who are ready to guide them on this journey.