English Speaking Board (International) Ltd

Category: Social Mobility

  • English Speaking Board Ambassador goes live on BBC Breakfast

    English Speaking Board Ambassador goes live on BBC Breakfast

    Hrishi Venkatesh (ESB Ambassador) and Tina Renshaw (Chief Executive, CEO)

    English Speaking Board (International) Ltd. was delighted to showcase one of its Ambassadors on BBC Breakfast television this morning.

    Hrishi Vankatesh, one of ESB’s newest Ambassadors, spoke about how he has become a confident communicator through his ESB assessments. He also shared his top tips for people who are nervous of speaking in public.

    He also spoke about his personal journey being diagnosed on the Autistic Spectrum and how ESB has helped him to grow in confidence and communicate well with others.

    Please watch Hrishi speak on BBC Breakfast in the clip below.

    ESB’s Chief Executive, Tina Renshaw accompanied Hrishi to the BBC studios, and says, “We enjoyed an exciting morning taking part in a topical dialogue on the importance of oracy. Hrishi spoke eloquently to the BBC audience of over 1.5 million viewers. It was very supportive of presenter Dan Walker to take such a personal interest in the issue by tweeting to his 515,000 followers about the value of public speaking.”

    On the programme, Hrishi, said: “When I started with English Speaking Board, it really helped to boost my confidence and just made me feel like people wanted to hear what I wanted to say.”

    Tina added: “Hrishi’s performance on BBC Breakfast follows his recent appearance at the Houses of Parliament speaking on ESB’s behalf on the subject of oracy. He is also joining us at our Young Speaker of the Year event in November, as a worthy winner of our ESB Ambassador award.

    “ESB supports schools, young people’s groups, colleges and universities to build confidence in communicating, speaking and listening.  We have a fantastic track record for 65 years in giving young people a voice, oracy skills and a recognised qualification. We’d love to hear how we can support you.”

    If you would like to learn more about the range of qualifications we offer, and join the ESB conversation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on speech@esbuk.org.

  • Giving youngsters a platform with Speakers Trust

    SpeakersTrust

    English Speaking Board (International) Ltd. and Speakers Trust today announced a partnership based on their shared aims of raising a learner’s confidence and unlocking their potential by developing and enhancing their oral communications skills.

    As part of their new partnership, ESB will create a qualification to support Speakers Trust public speaking courses, which will be added to ESB’s suite of speech products.

    In addition, material from a number of Speakers Trust programs with young people will be endorsed by ESB. This will allow the ESB brand to be marketed to a wider demographic of state schools in London and the South East who have participated in Speakers Trust workshops. ESB Chief Executive, Tina Renshaw, will be part of the judging panel for the Grand Final of the Speakers Trust’s Jack Petchey “Speak Out” Challenge! in London in July.

    Said Tina:

    Our partnership with Speakers Trust is an exciting development. Both charitable organisations share similar visions of raising achievement and providing enrichment for its learners. It is a natural fit for both of us and I sincerely believe our partnership will offer more opportunities for our learners to develop their confidence and become better communicators.

    Speakers Trust Chief Executive, Julie Holness, said:

    Speakers Trust and the English Speaking Board share a commitment to developing articulate young men and women who will speak out, inspire and make their mark in the world. We are proud and delighted to be working in partnership to bring all the benefits of public speaking training and flexible qualifications to an even wider audience.

     

    About English Speaking Board (International) Ltd.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

    English Speaking Board (International) Ltd. is a national awarding body with a mission to promote clear, effective communication at all levels by providing high quality products and services domestically and internationally, recognising and encouraging the potential of all. Founded in 1953, ESB offers English speech and language qualifications in the UK and internationally.  ESB’s ethos is to stretch the most able and support the least confident.

    www.esbuk.org

    About Speakers Trust

    Speakers Trust is the UK’s leading public speaking charity. Our vision is for every young person to be able to speak confidently and to be heard. We work extensively in the education, not-for-profit and community sectors, helping individuals to use their voice with confidence to effect positive change. We run the UK’s largest youth speaking competition which trains over 18,000 young people every year in effective communication skills.

    To find out more about ESB and our work with SpeakersTrust, please click here.

  • Government minister visits Foxes Academy

    Penny Mordaunt visits Foxes Academy

    Penny Mordaunt, Minister for Disabled People, Work and Health recently visited Foxes Academy in Minehead for an event at the Academy’s very own Foxes Hotel.

    After a dinner prepared by the learners, seven of them gave a presentation on their passion for working, and put forward their ideas on how to decrease the learning disability employment gap.

    Said Penny:

    Foxes Academy is a real asset to the Taunton area, helping empower local disabled people in the workplace. As a leader in our Disability Confident scheme, they are also showing employers across the country how they can make the most of the huge pool of untapped talent that disabled people offer.

    The unique Foxes Hotel, which provides educational and vocational training for young people with disabilities, equips learners with the practical skills needed for future employment. As part of their Functional Skills programme, learners at Foxes Academy achieve nationally recognised qualifications with ESB.

    ESB examiner, Jane Cross, who attended the event, said:

    Foxes Academy is an amazing place and ESB qualifications are certainly an integral and very important part of their Functional Skills programme. They provide learners with essential communication skills to use in a work environment.

  • An ESB qualification shows employers that you can communicate, says CBI’s North West Director

    ESB improves employability skills

    Damian Waters, Director of CBI in the North West said that his ESB qualification “most definitely” gave him employability skills. He said:

    My ESB examination was my first experience of public speaking, but I think one of my key strengths now is public engagement and presentations.

    Damian says that ESB played a key role in his personal and professional development:

    ESB started me off on the right track and gave me that initial confidence to find my voice.

    He added:

    An ESB qualification is great to have and be able to show employers that you can engage with colleagues, clients and customers.

    He recalled his experience of taking his ESB exam over 30 years ago:

    I remember that I had to make a speech to a panel of assessors and other pupils from my school and recite a poem that was committed to memory. I can still remember the poem today!

    I can clearly remember the feedback I received from the assessors; they spoke about the importance of being myself, engaging with the audience and presenting in a professional manner. I make dozens of speeches each year and I still try to stick to those words of advice.

    Damian passed on some words of guidance to youngsters preparing for presentations:

    Prepare properly, but don’t learn a script as it can come across as a bit fake. Always remember that the audience wants to enjoy the experience – they are willing you on!