Career Academy Students Provide Work Inspiration
Wednesday 9 December
Three Career Academy UK Students were among a small number of young people who met recently with Sir Stuart Rose, Chairman of Business in the Community and of Marks & Spencer to mark the first three months of the Work Inspiration Campaign.
Daniel Waldron and Charley Ridley from Cirencester College and Leoni Kiwanuka from Thomas Tallis School, were chosen from the 100 students who attended the Big Conversation event on 15 September because they have developed the principles of the campaign to turn work experience into work inspiration through their own example - all have stayed in contact with CEO's they met.
Daniel Waldren, Cirencester College
Career Academies UK has had a massive impact on me. I used to struggle to communicate with people, but since doing the course I've spoken to Peter Mandelson and given a series of speeches to potential investors... it's completely changed me as a person.
Charley Ridley, Cirencester College
We got to spend the whole morning with CEOs, telling them about our dreams and ideas. I picked up a lot of business cards and made lots of connections. It's really motivated me; it was great to sit amongst and chat to the people I dream of emulating one day. I'm studying Marketing so through the Career Academy programme I got an internship with Talk Talk, where I got the chance to write press releases for the X factor! Having the opportunity to put into practice what I'd learned in the classroom was amazing. It made me more confident; I learned how to behave and act in the business environment, which was so much better than sitting in a classroom. It's really important for employers to take on interns because young people have such a different view on things, with big ambitions, big ideas and big dreams. Businesses need to give young people a chance and let them shine. We are the next generation, and will hopefully be the ones taking over so companies need to open our eyes to business!
Leoni Kiwanuka, Thomas Tallis School
At the Big Conversation they sit you next to business leaders of companies that relate to what you want to do. I'm interested in finance so I was sat next to the Head of PriceWaterhouse Coopers. We swapped details and he has emailed me a few times offering advice. Now they might even sponsor me through University
All three students were also interviewed for the Work Inspiration website www.workinspiration.com Career Academies UK is also supporting a range of regional Big Conversations which will take place during the Spring of 2010 including Leeds on 12 February and Manchester on 15 April.
