Careers Spring Term Round-Up

In February, the Divisions applied their creative thinking and marketing skills to an all-day event as part of the National Careers Challenge run by The Inspirational Learning Group (TILG).  Their project, sponsored by Wickes, was to come up with ideas to develop an underused space within the school or local community and consider how this space could be re-imagined to promote inclusivity and physical, mental or emotional wellbeing. The quality of the ideas was great and we hope that some of them may be brought to fruition in the future.

In March, two of our Lower Sixth boys, Brayden D and Ashton B, represented the Merchant Taylors' Company as part of The Livery Entrepreneurs Challenge. This is a new enterprise competition for Livery schools, supported by the Company of Entrepreneurs.  Merchant Taylors’ students joined with students from other schools, St Helens and Wallingford School represented The Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors competing against teams from five other Livery Companies in running a virtual business, using industry-grade business simulation software. The teams were tasked with taking over a failing retail business and delivering against targets set by head office, covering profitability, customer satisfaction and employee morale.

Also in March, the Third Form started to develop their employability and enterprise skills in another day run by TILG, this time sponsored by Air Products, a global leading industrial gas company based in the UK. The challenge was to develop a concept for a Sustainable Town of the Future, with a  focus on sustainable transport links, housing and food production. Pupils' creativity shone through with some amazing designs and ideas, and the day ended with a 'pitch to the panel'. 

In other Enterprise activities, our two Young Enterprise teams have been out and about at multiple trade fairs across the region, selling their luxury journals and scented bracelets and winning awards along the way. Their first big competition event is after Easter, and we wish them well for that. The Divisions Tycoon team, taking part in the competition organised by the Peter Jones Foundation, has also been selling their GPS trackers in school and at the Prep School. Currently doing well in their group's national leaderboard, we are hoping they will go on to great success next term. Watch this space!