Hartpury’s 2021 Big Careers Event has been rated an overwhelming success by students looking for support and advice about planning their next steps in employment and education.
In a survey, 91% per cent of students who attended the showpiece event – held virtually this year because of the pandemic – said they felt more confident about being able to make a decision about their career path.
The seventh annual Big Careers Event provided current A-level and diploma students at Hartpury College with virtual access to alumni, entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Industry representatives from Hartpury’s core subject areas – animal, agriculture, equine, sport and veterinary nursing – discussed routes into those sectors and career options.
Sessions delivered by a number of other experts included advice on producing an attractive CV, an apprentice workshop, how working aboard can enhance employability, and why going to university may increase career opportunities.
Comments from students about what they had gained from the event included:
- There are some jobs I hadn't even considered doing before, but now I have heard about them I may actually choose that career path
- I have a better idea of what educational paths I can take and how accessible they will be for me
- Take any opportunity that is presented with both hands when they come up, step out of your comfort zone and try new things to gain experience
- That there are many options available from university to apprenticeships and they should all be considered to see which would best suit my own personality and needs
Simon Spooner, Head of Innovation, Careers and Enterprise (ICE) at Hartpury, said: “Our annual Big Careers Event provides our students with a safe environment in which to engage face to face with some employers and business leaders and make key contacts.
“We invited organisations that were representative across Hartpury’s core subject areas – sport, agriculture, equine, animal and veterinary nursing – as well as employers from other industries to provide students with a broad range of options.
“Alongside other work we do, it’s a great opportunity for our students to explore the employment market and discover opportunities they might not have even considered yet, like starting up their own business or working aboard.
“We’re encouraging students to be flexible and creative with their career vision because there are lots of opportunities out there for them, despite the Covid landscape.
“We obviously had to move to a virtual format this year in line with current lockdown restrictions, but the feedback from students remained hugely positive, with 91% saying they felt more confident about being able to make a decision about their career path following the event.
“We’d like to say a massive thank-you to the 70-plus organisations and businesses who supported this year’s Big Careers Event, particularly in such testing times for a number of industries.”
Picture: Hartpury graduate Simone Martin is a senior sales executive at Ascot Racecourse, one of the many career paths for students to consider
