Pupils relished the chance of talking to more than 55 businesses and colleges about future careers.
We held our popular Careers Fair in our sports hall and it’s growing every year. Pupils from all year groups had the opportunity to find out more about businesses, colleges and further education establishments to help to guide them on their future career paths. They also found out more about charities and sports activities in the area where they can volunteer.
Year 11 Bilal said: “It was very interesting talking to all the people here. I want to be an engineer so it was good to discuss apprenticeships.”
Hamza said: “I have talked to both Newman and Blackburn College about the courses they have on offer as I want to study Business. It makes you more aware of what’s on offer.”
Iqra said: “I want to do Maths, Accounting and Business so I have been talking to different colleges about this.”
Maryam said: “It’s been interesting just looking at all the different career options available. I think I will go to Burnley College to study Biochemistry and Psychology.”
George said: “I have enjoyed the Careers Fair, just speaking to everyone and finding out things about careers. It’s been an eye-opener. I want to be a software engineer.”
Dr Mulla from Benefit Mankind spoke to pupils about volunteering opportunities at their charity: “We work in more than 20 countries so being here raises awareness of our work, our homeless projects and for those families struggling, and how good it is to volunteer while you are looking for work and to continue it once in work.”
Lancashire Women in Business is a group set up for companies to work together to support each other.
Raeesah Jassat said: “We are a community for women who have come together through work. It’s a lot of different businesses, from doctors, dentists, designers, therapists, hair and make-up and more, all supporting and helping each other.”
United Utilities were represented by two former Pleckgate pupils, Fiysal Slaam, who left in 2011, and Abdul-Samad Desai, who left in 2017. They are both leakage technicians.
Fiysal said: “It’s good to be back and some of the teachers even recognised me from all that time ago! It’s good to have the chance to talk to the current pupils”
Scientist Ammad Iqbal, from Pharmaron, a life science service provider, talked to pupils about gene therapy.
“I came last year and it’s always really well organised, with the pupils all engaged.”
Saira Shah is an author and she said: “I want to emphasise the importance of stories and reading as it creates empathy and makes for a better society.”
Naz Vander from Specsavers showed different avenues pupils can go through to be, for example, an audiologist.
“They can take the college and university route but they can also try for an apprenticeship with us where we look after them all the way through.”
Scarlett Wilson visited from 18 St John Chambers in Manchester to discuss a career in law. Pleckgate pupils take part in the prestigious Bar Mock Trials every year.
Scarlett, a pupil barrister, said: “Such a lot of pupils have come over to chat, especially about criminology, and they are so lovely. I don’t think I was so eloquent at their age!
“They have a natural interest in finding out more and some are still deciding what they want to do in the future. They have all been excellent. I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who took their time out to come and speak to our pupils. As well as those mentioned there were a host of other careers represented including the army, the navy, the NHS, energy companies and more all willing to engage with our pupils and talk about a variety of career paths.”
“It means our pupils are armed with information when they make their next choices, whether that’s further education, work or apprenticeships, or for Year 9s choosing their options. It’s a valuable experience for them.”
