Earlier this month people from across Sandwell gained valuable insight into future careers at the Raising Aspirations event, held at the Mercure Hotel Birmingham West.
Delivered as a joint event between Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, The Black Country Chamber of Commerce, Sandwell Business Ambassadors and the Black Country Careers Hub, taking place during National Careers Week, it gave pupils the chance to speak directly with employers and learn more about the opportunities available to them in the local area.
Pupils were seated in small groups and rotated between employer tables throughout the session, allowing them to hear from a range of professionals across sectors including the Armed Forces, NHS, AI, creative industries, engineering and entrepreneurship.
Employers shared their career journeys, outlining their roles, the skills required and the routes they took into employment. They also highlighted the wide variety of roles available within their organisations and sectors, helping pupils to better understand the different career pathways open to them. These conversations helped to address some common misconceptions and gave pupils the chance to think more broadly about their future.
Building confidence and key skills
Alongside the discussions, pupils took part in a series of interactive activities designed to build confidence and develop key employability skills such as communication, teamwork and problem solving.
A key part of the day saw pupils work with employers to create a short business plan for a new product or service. Each group then presented their ideas back to the room, giving them the opportunity to practise speaking in front of others and share their thinking.
Supporting the future workforce
Blaise Aboh, Director of AI at City Business, said “It was a wonderful event. I saw myself in a lot of these young people. Not knowing what they want to do and unsure of their futures, but you could see the lightbulb moments where, after a short explanation, discussions and a few prompts they became inspired to ask questions and engage with myself and the other employers to find out more. It was a great opportunity for me to engage with the future workforce.”
Nicy Morgan our Business Development Coordinator said “It was an honour and a genuine pleasure to help bring this event to life, creating a space where the young people of Sandwell could connect with such a wide range of local employers – from the Armed Forces and the NHS to AI, creative industries and entrepreneurship.”
Events like Raising Aspirations play an important role in helping young people understand the world of work while giving businesses the opportunity to connect with future talent.
Read about becoming a young entrepreneur: https://sandwellbusinessgrowth.com/start-up/young-entrepreneurs/.