Students enjoy a day behind-the-scenes in the Capital

Redbridge College’s Business Studies students descended on London last month to go behind-the-scenes of one of Britain’s most influential organisations.

Clifford Chance LLP, a global law firm, opened the doors of their Canary Wharf office to the group of 15 students on 30 November.

The visit was part of a day-long event, called ‘A Capital Experience’, organised by Career Academies UK. Career Academies is a programme that promotes business education among students, encouraging them to raise their aspirations.

In the morning the young people got the chance to boost their employability skills through a workplace tour and a question and answer session with bosses about what life is like at the top. One cheeky student, Louis Chakravarthi, even asked for the email address of one of the partners in the firm – and got it!

Louis commented, “I asked for the partner’s email address as I saw an opportunity to gain a useful role model from whom I can learn and use to develop my skills. The whole day was an enjoyable experience that gave me an insight into business. Being part of Career Academies gives me a pathway to more skills and qualities as a person, not just a student.”

Then in the afternoon, the students gathered at the National Theatre to participate in a range of business-related activities, led by motivational speaker Dave McQueen. During the inspirational session, serial entrepreneur Shaa Wasmund and Accenture partner Tim Robinson shared their own career journeys with the teenagers. Status – the current UK Street Dance Champions for 2009 – also made a guest appearance.

Tracy Lewzey, administrator for the Career Academies programme at Redbridge College, said, “This is the first event our students take part in on their course. I love it as you can instantly see the positive change in their attitude as their aspirations begin to heighten.”

Martyn Drain, Acting Chief Executive of Career Academies UK, said, “At a time when youth unemployment is at worryingly high levels and young people are leaving school without the skills they need to succeed, ‘A Capital Experience’ is more relevant than ever. The day is designed to provide these teenagers with inspiring, work-related learning experiences and open their eyes to what is available if they aim high. Our hope is that that after visiting the workplace of one of the UK’s biggest employers, they will realise that a successful future career is not just a dream and is in fact well within their grasp.”

‘A Capital Experience’ is the biggest national one-day event in Career Academies’ calendar and kicks off the two-year programme for the young people taking part. Redbridge College is now in the second year of delivering the programme to their business students. In September 2010 music, media and IT will take their first student cohort.

The Career Academies programme was set up in 2002 by Sir Win Bischoff, current chairman of Lloyds Banking Group plc, and provides a qualification equivalent to three A levels. It includes one-to-one business mentoring and a six-week paid internship over the summer holidays.

Nationally, 95% of Career Academy graduates go on to higher education, or an equivalent level of work-related training, compared with a predicted 40% based on their GCSE performance at the start of the programme. There are 1,200 students involved in the programme in the UK, as well as 50 top London-based employers.