More than five thousand London teenagers benefitted from potentially life-changing advice in the first event of its kind designed to help them navigate today’s complex careers and education landscape.
The Evening Standard’s two-day Step Up Expo hosted more than 7,000 visitors – including more than 5,500 students – as well as parents and teachers.
Experts from school sixth forms, universities, colleges, and employers including British Airways, the British Army, the London Ambulance Service and the Met Police, shared their expertise with thousands of teenagers who are about to make vital decisions about their futures.
Motivational speakers were also on hand at the event in Olympia London to spur on students’ ambitions, and to reassure those who do not yet know what to do next.
One attendee, a 15 year old girl who attended with her schoolmates, said: “Thinking about my future is sometimes overwhelming – there are so many options to choose from and every decision feels quite monumental so I don’t know where to start. But it was really helpful to have so many people to talk to who have real-life experience of the different paths I am thinking about.”
The event came after the careers education provided in schools has been widely criticised. A new report from the Commons education committee said all primary school children should now be taught about the world of work to break down negative stereotypes about gender and background and to raise aspirations.
Committee chairman Robin Walker said: “Getting careers education right would do so much to inspire and boost the life chances of young people in every corner of the country.”
More than 100 organisations exhibited at the event, including top universities such as University College London, City University and Dundee university.
Some of the most prestigious private schools such as St Paul’s School and Roedean held workshops to give students advice about bursaries and scholarships.
Leading athletes, including Badminton player Elizabeth Cann, who now works for the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, gave advice to youngsters about building a ‘champion mindset.’ Ms Cann said: “Getting out of your comfort zone is not comfortable, but your dreams are on the other side. Learn to relax with the discomfort of the process.” She advised teenagers at the expo to celebrate their small successes along the way to their future dream.
BMX racer Tre Whyte said: “Everyone looks at the end goal, but look at what you can control today to edge slightly towards that goal and before you know it you are moving up the mountain.”
Mr Whyte, who has worked with excluded children in pupil referral units with the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, added: “Failure is part of life. We will all fail, we will all have heartbreak, when you put yourself out there and want to do well you are probably going to fail more than you succeed. It is part of life.”
Rugby player Reigan Johnson-Hinds, who is also a coach at Dallaglio RugbyWorks, which helps young people who are excluded from school, advised students thinking about applying to university to go to as many open days as possible and try different experiences. He said: “Throw yourself out there. Us young people have a saying – ‘charge it.’ You have to literally just do it.”
Stef Sword Williams, founder of F*ck Being Humble, which encourages people to be proud of their achievements, told students: “In your life you are due to have 12 different careers. It is fine if what you choose now doesn’t last more than five years. It is OK if you don’t know what job you want to do.”
She advised teenagers to try different things, and to try to find a mentor to speak to about with experience in the field they are interested in. “You can only get more clarity by experiencing something.” She said, adding: “Over the summer it is quieter and people have more time to take phone calls – you can never get a yes unless you ask,. You have to be the one knocking on doors asking.”
Life coach Dior Bedaiko said: “I tell my clients that ‘no’ is a result, it means you are in the game, trying.”
