Christ the King Sixth Form students aged 16-17 years from the Lewisham and Sidcup campuses recently attended the Talent Accelerator workshop in The City of London. The workshop, held in May, was organized by Urban Synergy, a charity that aims to bridge the gap between young people and the professional world.
Accompanied by their teachers, the students were welcomed by Irene Youngs, who believes in preparing students for the workforce and helping their schools reach the Gatsby Benchmarks 5 & 6, which focus on providing students with encounters with employers and experiences in the workplace. These benchmarks are also essential for students pursuing T-Levels.
The workshop took place in the stylish offices of the London Stock Exchange in Paternoster Square, offering the students a stunning view of St Paul’s Cathedral. The office’s open plan layout, complete with sofas, cushions, and bean-to-cup coffee machines, provided an ideal setting for the students to learn and engage.
The workshop began with the students working on their CVs, followed by mock interviews and networking tips. The students had the opportunity to put these skills to practice with employees of the London Stock Exchange Group. They also delivered presentations as part of the workshop.
The students were then treated to an inspirational keynote speech by Tony Baldwin, Global Head of Collateral & Liquidity Management at LCH (London Clearing House), a London Stock Exchange Group business. Baldwin, who hails from South London, shared insights into his role at LSEG and his career journey, inspiring the students to pursue their dreams.
The students also received valuable tips on presentation skills from LSEG Legal Counsels Amruta Sawarka and Santushti Kalra, who shared their own career journeys with the students. David Sol, Head of Policy & Managing Director at FTSE Russell, delivered a workshop on Empathic Accuracy & Presentation Negotiation, challenging the students to think critically and compete with each other.
After the workshop, the students shared their feedback:
– 100% felt more confident about interviews– 100% learned about workplace values and new career pathways– 100% felt they had improved their communication and presentation skills
One student said, “I gained key skills from this event and will use them in my day-to-day life.” Another added, “It enabled me to improve in certain areas that I find difficult.”
Urban Synergy’s Head of Programmes, Dianne Johnson, expressed her gratitude to the LSEG employees, teachers, and students for their participation in the workshop. She also thanked the LSEG Foundation for their support, saying, “You really live your values and believe in diversity. We are so lucky to have you as our partner.”
The workshop was distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/ and was a valuable learning experience for the students, equipping them with essential skills for their future careers.