Students given career advice during speed networking event
Business leaders gave A’Level students a valuable insight into career opportunities available to them during a speed-networking event at Truro College.
Employers from a range of organisations took part in the day (Wednesday, June 25) which gave young students valuable tips and advice about what to expect in the workplace.
The college’s first STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) Careers Speed Networking Day involved around 200 A’Level science students, scores of local businesses.
Employers were invited into the College and asked to talk to small groups of students in ten-minute slots about their own business, their own progression routes and offer their own tips and advice.
Among the business representatives taking part was Alastair Carnegie, managing director of Stoke Climsland-based energy broker Total Energy Solutions. He said: “It was a great event and is not only a valuable experience for the students, but also gives local businesses the opportunity to see what local talent there is on their doorstep.
“I spoke to around 50 students throughout the day and the point of it was to broaden their outlook on what they can do when they leave college. I talked to them about CVs, the interview process and even their body language and how easy it is to lose the chance of a job before they even sit down.
“There is a gulf generally between education and business, and students are not ready for the workplace after graduation, but with events like these, we are helping them to understand more about what is expected from them."
The event was organised by Cornwall Learning Education Business Partnership and some of the careers up for discussion including Geology, Engineering, Marine and Nuclear, Conservation Bioscience and Science Communication.
Kate Whetter, education projects manager at Cornwall Learning Education Business Partnership, said the purpose of the day was to inspire the 16 and 17-year-old students about the range of STEM careers available.
She said: “The careers speed networking event has been a huge success for the students taking part. It has been a great opportunity to foster young people’s interest in the workplace and to inform them of the range of STEM related careers available to them.”
Businesses taking part in the event included Eden Project, Cornwall Solar Panels, Pendennis Shipyard, Superfast Cornwall and Southwest Electrical Solutions, among others.
ENDS
For further information contact Jayne Freer at marketing@totalenergysolutions.co.uk or call 07711 264087
Notes To Editor:
- Total Energy Solutions is a trusted market leader in brokering energy deals for small, medium and large companies across Devon and Cornwall
- We believe in open and honest communication with our clients about energy and prices and are transparent about the commission earned
- We have signed up to the TPI Code of Practice
- We strongly believe that businesses should give something back to the communities in which they work and we give 10% of our profit and time to local charitable organisations