Over 80 of our Year 10 students recently took part in the Future Ready Careers Experience at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, an engaging and interactive event organised by Oldham Council designed to connect young people with employers and further education providers from across Greater Manchester.
Students explored a wide range of career sectors, including Construction & Green Economy, Creative, Culture & Sport, Digital & Technology, Education & Early Years, Engineering & Manufacturing, Financial & Professional Services, and Health & Social Care.
Throughout the day, students visited the stands, spoke directly to employers, discovered the qualifications required for a variety of roles, and asked about future work experience opportunities.
Some students also had the exciting opportunity to meet local councillors, including Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, who spoke to them about leadership, community engagement, and the importance of young people shaping Oldham’s future.
The event also offered some truly memorable and interactive experiences. Students came face-to-face with a full-sized Dalek at the Inclusive Bytes stand, a non-profit organisation that helps young people learn, experiment and contribute to meaningful digital projects, while tackling digital exclusion across Oldham and beyond.
They also took part in Buzz Quizzes with Positive Steps, discovering what animal best represented their personality and how that linked to potential career paths.
There was plenty of fun and hands-on learning too, with students trying out VR games, exploring digital sports activities, and even testing police gear while asking insightful questions about policing and community safety.
Student reflections from the day captured just how valuable the experience was:
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Faiqa: “Today opened up a lot of choices for the future that I was unaware of. It highlighted which fields I want to get into and I now know some that I am not interested in.”
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Emme: “I got lots of advice from colleges about what A Level courses would be best for me.”
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Hafsa: “I spoke to many employers and colleges at the event about my interests and what I’m thinking of studying at A Level.”
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Alicia & Amelia: “We used our social skills to talk to lots of companies, learning about a variety of options for Post-16 education such as apprenticeships, A Levels and BTEC courses.”
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Erin: “I now have an idea of what jobs I want to get into in the future, thanks to the advice and information I got today.”
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Jesse & Jordan: “It was an informative and enjoyable experience.”
A number of our students also used this time to speak to companies about work experience, making plans for later in the academic year.
It was an afternoon filled with curiosity and inspiration. Well done to all our students for making the most of every opportunity.
Building on Oldham’s CyberFirst programme and expanding digital pathways, this event reinforces our commitment to preparing students for a future full of opportunity, one where they can confidently explore the many routes available to them after Year 11.
