CONNEXIONS Ealing kick-started the New Year with a Speed Networking Careers Event for Year 9 pupils from Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School in Greenford.
Over 300 pupils aged between 13 to 14 years old armed themselves with a list of questions before meeting a variety of businesses from across the Borough of Ealing to discuss each of the professions, including the qualifications required, study and training.
Supporting the Careers Event was Specsavers Greenford Broadway and Westway Cross ophthalmic director Shaan Patel who is an advocate of career progression and self-development. Commenting on the event, Shaan Patel says: ‘It was a great opportunity to chat to the students who were all so enthusiastic to find out more.
‘A number of them asked me some really pertinent questions about being an optometrist and what it entails, plus the length of time to qualify, and best places to study. A number of others were curious to find out what it’s like to work for such a big well-known brand like Specsavers.’
During the morning Shaan Patel met with the students who learnt more about the eye and the various diagnostic tests carried out as part of a sight test, including the OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography), which is hospital grade and takes a 3D image of the of the back of the eye, and can detect some eye conditions such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy up to four years ahead of them presenting via a standard eye test.
With the vast choice of work and study options available to students, inviting local businesses and employers into the school so they can pose questions to them seems a great way to find out more first-hand from the professionals.
The team of Careers Advisers at Connexions Ealing have put together a comprehensive events programme for 2024 which offers support to several schools across the Borough. Alison Delius, Careers Adviser based at Cardinal Wiseman says: ‘It was a great start to the New Year, there was a real buzz during the morning, and the feedback I have received has been fantastic!
Student comments about the event include:
“I enjoyed hearing what people did in their jobs” – Danesha
“I learned lots about different careers and it was fun” – Patryk
“The Careers Day was really informative” – Shine Skila
“It was very interesting” – Lena
“It was great!” – Nathan
Alison continues: ‘We were delighted that Shaan could attend as we appreciate how busy he is. It was really valuable to have someone with his expertise who could discuss what is entailed in running a business, plus the daily responsibilities of being an optometrist. I’m sure the students were thrilled to find out more about the science behind a sight test and how it can reveal underlying health issues.’
‘And of course, Specsavers is such a well-known brand, that I’m sure having the chance to meet a store director and find out more was a great opportunity for them. We always warmly welcome and value the expertise of Specsavers who have supported a number of these events.
‘As a team we really value the support of local businesses, as the career programme does inspire and motivate the students, helping them to better understand the working world – plus it can be a catalyst that sets them off on their career path.’
Specsavers as an organisation encourages its staff to further their qualifications and progress their careers within the group. The Specsavers Career Pathway offers staff the opportunity to study for industry-recognised qualifications which encompass a wide variety of roles, including customer services, optician, dispensing optician, optical assistant, audiologist, hearcare assistant and laboratory technicians.
For anyone who wants to check out if their eyesight or hearing is in tip-top condition for 2024, you can contact Specsavers Greenford Broadway on 020 8832 8940 or you can also book online: https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/greenford
