The 15 and 16-year-old pupils were encouraged to aim high by women in senior positions at companies and organisations such as the BBC, Financial Times, Airbus Defence & Space and Wandsworth Council at an event organised by the borough’s Education and Business Partnership BEST.
In mentoring sessions staged over three days, 90 Burntwood Year 11 students heard from women in senior positions in both public and private sector organisations. Other industries represented at the event included marketing, construction, hospitality, and healthcare.
The inspirational speakers discussed their journeys, career history and current roles and gave the students some of their top tips on achieving their ambitions.
Feedback from the pupils included:
“My favourite speakers were the journalists as they followed different and alternative routes. For example, instead of going to university to get into their industry, they did an apprenticeship.”
“It was really interesting and it showed what else goes on inside a company that specialises in engineering and what qualifications and skills will be needed.”
The event was arranged by the council’s Education and Business Partnership BEST (Business and Education Succeeding Together). This service is in its 27th year and provides approximately 1,500 work experience placements for Wandsworth school pupils every year.
The service has always benefitted from the commitment of employers, inside and outside of the borough, who make the time to inform and inspire tomorrow’s workforce.
Speaking after the event BBC TV journalist Shannon McGowan (pictured here) said: “It was a pleasure speaking to students at Burntwood School about careers in the media. The girls were curious and engaged – great qualities for a budding journalist! I hope the session helped open their eyes to the diverse opportunities available at the BBC and the different routes to getting a job in a UK newsroom.”
Ana Popovici, Wandsworth’s director of children’s service, said: ‘I was humbled and honoured to have been given the opportunity to share my story and career path with such an enthusiastic group of female students. As a leader of children’s services, the vast majority of our staff are women, and more often women and girls are amongst the most vulnerable groups in relation to the work we do.
“Women, as well as men in senior positions can make a real difference and I hope that through my contribution I planted a seed of curiosity and have inspired young girls to think about careers in social work, teaching and to consider careers in leadership within local government- which continues to make great strides in promoting and sowing positiveness about the equality and inclusion of women at all levels of the organisation.”
The borough’s cabinet member for education and children’s service Cllr Will Sweet added: “Young people have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic's disruption to the jobs market. Events like these feed into the employability strand of the council’s ambitious five-year recovery strategy; to ensure that all young people reach their potential and are supported in appropriate career paths which match their own ambitions and aspirations.
Local companies and organisations interested in being involved in future work experience activities – ranging from offering presentations to students, helping with interviews or providing work experience opportunities in the future can contact BEST@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk.
