A team of human resources professionals from Ernst & Young have provided students with the knowledge and know-how to help them to secure their dream jobs.

Volunteers from the Birmingham professional services firm held a hands-on workshop at Edgbaston Cricket Ground for more than 100 Year 10 students from Hamstead Hall Community Learning Centre, which is based in Handsworth Wood. The students were given an insight into what employers are looking for in potential new recruits, and were coached on how to write application forms and how to excel at job interviews.

The workshop was the latest in a series of collaborations between Ernst & Young and Hamstead Hall, and forms part of an ongoing community partnership which aims to link each of the firm's UK offices to one or more local schools.

Ronnie Bowker, senior partner of Ernst & Young's Colmore Square office, said: "The interview skills day was a real success and the response we have had from the volunteers, and the staff and students of Hamstead Hall, has been extremely positive. It is really important for a firm of our size to give something back to the community and the school partnership scheme is a really effective way of doing this.

"Through a programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching, we are able to pass on the skills and experience of our employees to local students and provide them with an insight in to the world of business."

The session was an extension of the partnership scheme - Ernst & Young are also supporting Hamstead Hall's latest fund-raising scheme, which is supporting the construction of a primary school in the village of Abuku in Gambia.