A thousand students and 60 employers and education providers took part in our Futures Event on Tuesday 22nd October in the Peter Hopkins Hall.  It was specifically aimed at 14-18-year-old students who are making important decisions about their post-16 and post-18 choices:

• For students in Year 10 the event was an ideal opportunity for them to be inspired by careers and training and employment opportunities that they may not have previously considered

• Students in Year 11 were being encouraged to make decisions about their post-16 options including applications to sixth form or FE colleges and/or apprenticeships

• Students in Sixth Form considered the benefits of HE or higher-level apprenticeships post-18

Careers awareness and employability workshops were run with students in the morning followed by a Futures Exhibition in the main school hall in the afternoon.

Heads of Year for the different age groups put together an itinerary of tailored careers activities before students attended the Exhibition. These involved employers and education providers (including FE colleges and universities) delivering workshops to help students to make informed decisions about their next steps. For example, Year 10s will be heard from the College of West Anglia, Springwood Sixth Form and Ask Apprenticeships about the choices they have after GCSEs whilst Year 11s completed the Help You Choose application process for post-16 choices and developed their employability skills by focusing on building confidence and resilience. Meanwhile, Sixth Formers heard about the benefits of work experience and chose a themed workshop to attend which looked at STEM, creative, health, public sector or business and finance careers.

A mix of employers and education providers, including some of the biggest employers in West Norfolk, were on hand to advise students e.g. the QEH, The Borough Council, Palm Paper and British Sugar. Employers talked about the apprenticeship and job vacancies they might have coming up and some students have since followed up on specific opportunities.

The event was also a great opportunity for employers to talent spot and develop contacts with their workforce of tomorrow.  Some employers were keen to demonstrate that students can pursue a career pathway right here in Norfolk rather than moving away for work. For instance, tourism is helping to drive economic growth in our county, supporting more than 54,000 jobs and contributing about £2.8bn to the local economy. One Traveller exhibited at the event and is keen to promote careers and pathways in the tourism sector.