At SWPS a number of careers and business seminars have taken place this term, with students being fortunate enough to be inspired by an array of visiting speakers, industry leaders and alumnae.
Lisa Hendricks
SWPS students were engaged with insights from Lisa Hendricks, who visited to address the Year 13 A Level Business class this term. Lisa – who is a SWPS parent and 2023 Woman of the Year for Women in Fire Safety – is an award-winning consultant for business development and growth in the Construction Industry. She offered some excellent advice for the students about networking in business.
Meducators Engineering Workshop
In October, students from Years 9 and above had the opportunity to attend an engineering workshop. During the workshop our students learnt that there is currently a shortfall of 55,000 engineers in the UK and the benefits of studying an engineering degree. The afternoon was divided into various workshops focusing on different fields of engineering ranging from material science and robotics, to electrical, civil, mechanical and aerospace engineering.
During the mechanical engineering session, each group was given the task of constructing a bridge out of spaghetti and marshmallows, using a budget of £100 million. The cost of the items was £2 million for a spaghetti strand and £5 million pounds for a marshmallow; the aim being to construct a bridge within the specified time and budget. Other workshops focused on aerospace, where students had to try to build a structure which would prevent a raw egg from breaking when dropped from the SWPS Sixth Form roof-top terrace. When tested, many of the student designs survived the fall and they managed to avoid landing on any of the people standing below!
Samsung
Technology work placements and apprenticeships
Perkonian, Olivia Cox Lousada (Class of 2021), returned to SWPS to talk about her industry placement at Samsung as part of her final year at Leeds University. Alongside two colleagues, she advised students about options after school, apprenticeship and school leaver programmes at Samsung, as well as the graduate opportunities available. They were able to explain the process of organising placement years and university life in general. It was a fantastic talk, especially as Olivia had only recently been through the UCAS and placement application process and was able to offer some useful advice about how to stand out and improve the chance of succeeding in this competitive industry.
TWP Accountants
Perkonian Alice Munday (class of 2018) returned to SWPS this term to talk to our students about her career path into Accounting. Alice works at TWP, an independent accountancy firm. She decided to go straight into a professional role at TWP Accounting, where she is training for her Tax Accountancy (ATT) qualifications. The talk, part of our extensive careers program, explained an alternative path into the profession rather than the traditional university route. Students also heard from qualified accountants and managers from TWP who have been through the trainee programme; they explained the training that is on offer and how the programme works. The session concluded with a question and answer session.
