This event was even bigger and better than last year, we were again able to invite all students in years 10-13 to attend, so nearly 700 students were involved. We also had some very exciting exhibitor who were able to provide them with invaluable information on potential future careers and qualifications. During their visit students spent time talking to the exhibitors, interacting with games/quizzes, engaging with various activities that promoted different industries and institutions and collecting a whole host of information leaflets and freebies. This event could not have happened without the time and energy of all our exhibitors. We were excited to welcome representatives from the following organisations:

Tatiana Lapteva from LingvoHouse Translation and Localisation
Sophie Westwood from Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership
Giles Thomas from Manor Collection
Matt-Hugo-Woodmor-Wood. FRSA There's NO Planet B
Régina Heap from Ada, the National College for Digital Skills
Representatives from East Surrey College, John Ruskin College, University of Greenwich, University of Portsmouth. London South Bank University.
Louise from Gallagher Group Ltd
Representatives from GATWICK AIRPORT LIMITED, The Army, The MET Police, Hobbledown LTD Graham Kent from @BritishRedCross as well as Isabelle Secord, Arathi Anand and their colleague from Pfizer, Gloria Louis and her colleague from Delfont Mackintosh Theatres Ltd. as well as the amazing Sarah Pavey and Natalie Lue.

Our exhibitors were very positive in their feedback from the day and were highly complimentary about the way our students conducted themselves. As a result of the enthusiasm and behaviour displayed by our students, we have received many offers of future trips and offers of work experience from some of the exhibitors.

Cheryl Terry from The University of Greenwich enjoyed “meeting [our] switched on students. Furthermore, Graham Kent from The British Red Cross enjoyed his “15 minute conversation with 4 boys from year 13, which was deeply philosophical in nature about the nature of what is work, what is a good path, what path can I follow if I don’t know the way, what is tactical voting, how can I travel in my gap year and do volunteer work and a number of other exciting topics!”. Finally, Sophie Westwood from the NHS Surrey Heartlands was impressed by “Having students ask specific questions about roles and seeing they have completed previous research before speaking to me.”

Matilda K in year 11 felt that the most important information she received was “that in areas which seem very specified there are often lots of jobs behind the scenes that require all sorts of skill sets and varying knowledge and qualifications”. Sam H in year 10 said “I think the most useful bit of info I was given was the work hours by the man at the British Red Cross and whether they are flexible or not.” Finally, Aaliyah E in year 12 found out “For university I should read published articles by my potential lecturers and put it into my application. Also, to make sure to include any soft skills I have.”

We are already looking forward to seeing what the Futures Fair 2025 brings!