During National Careers Week 2025, Bryanston held its Futures Fair on Friday 7 March. The event for our A3 (Lower Sixth) pupils brought together over 60 parents and around 30 guest speakers, including OBs (Old Bryanstonians) currently studying at university and talented career professionals from industries such as architecture, investment banking, journalism, law, property, wealth management as well as the MOD and Civil Service.
In line with Bryanston’s Careers Week’s theme, “The World Needs You,” pupils were encouraged to think beyond academic silos and traditional job titles to the opportunities and challenges of the changing world around them; and identify how they could contribute to making the world a better place using their personal strengths, skills, and passions. The day featured a range of talks, panel discussions, and networking opportunities designed to help pupils explore future pathways and better understand how to succeed and thrive in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world of work.
Keynote speakers included a talk by Katherine Lloyd Clark, from the University of Exeter on Applying to Higher Education in a Competitive Landscape. Katherine provided insights on how to stand out in university applications and choose suitable courses, emphasising strategic decision-making and the importance of academic performance. Rachel Montgomerie (OB) and Head of HR at HSBC, who talked on A Recruiter’s Perspective on Early Careers sharing an inside look at the recruitment process from a global banking perspective, discussing the skills and attributes top employers value in graduates and interns and the opportunities afforded by degree apprenticeships. And, former parent, Bella Eccles, from Tinker Tailor, who spoke on Preparing for the World of Work & the Importance of Career Management Tools where she emphasised the importance of developing employability skills and embracing lifelong learning to remain competitive in the fast-evolving job market.
Parents also heard from a panel comprising Bryanston’s Futures team, Liz Thornton (Deputy Head, Head of Sixth Form), Steven Green (Head of Universities), Andy Bray (Head of Future Pathways), Stephen Davies (Oxbridge Coordinator), Lisa Kearney (Head of International Applications) and Caroline de Mowbray (Head of Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Employability). Together, they explained the variety of future pathways available to Bryanston pupils as well as how applications through UCAS are managed and the support provided by the Futures team to all pupils whether they are still considering their options or focused on a particular pathway.
Parents were also offered an opportunity to learn more detail about the various pathways with talks by Sheena Hawkins from the University Guys on international applications; HSBC and JPMorgan representatives offering the recruiter and the apprentice’s view of the degree apprenticeships pathway; and Deloitte’s Matt Thornton, providing an invaluable insight to the graduate recruitment market. The involvement of parents, together with the ongoing support from a pupil’s tutor and the heads of department, ensures our pupils are fully supported in their thinking and can make informed choices about their future.
During the Fair, our A3 pupils had an opportunity to hear about a variety of university courses from current students as well as Tanya March from Arts University Bournemouth on the creative arts. They spoke about the realities of pursuing degrees in business, classics, computer science, criminology, engineering, film, geography, international relations, psychology and more. Their firsthand accounts helped pupils connect classroom learning to real-world living and working and demonstrated the broad range of opportunities awaiting them beyond Bryanston.
One particularly notable workshop was from Eli Elcombe, a third-year medical student at the University of Sheffield with interests in management consulting and entrepreneurship. In her talk, “More Than Medics,” Eli highlighted the versatility of a medical degree, noting that the skills gained, from critical thinking to problem-solving, can be applied across numerous sectors. Pupils, whether they were considering a career in medicine or not, left the session feeling inspired and open to exciting new perspectives.
For those unable to attend in person, or who wanted to revisit the material, all keynote speeches were recorded in Coade Hall and will be made available. Together with further information on Bryanston’s Futures.
Caroline de Mowbray, Head of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Employability at Bryanston, said, “There is no better way to learn than from those who have already trodden the path and are willing to share their experiences to encourage and empower the next generation. It was wonderful to see how energised the pupils were from their information sessions. We hope all pupils leave with renewed motivation, realising how what they do in school connects to the real world. Business, and indeed any profession, is about identifying opportunities, channelling our strengths and above all connecting with people. Developing an enquiring mindset, acquiring key employability skills and building professional connections will all serve our pupils well as they prepare to navigate the rapidly changing of work.”
Thank you to our wonderful guest speakers who inspired our pupils and to the entire Futures Fair team for organising such an informative event.
