A Look Back at Careers Day
Mrs A. Boustead – Careers Director
What an incredible buzz there was on campus on Monday as we hosted our annual St Bede’s College Careers Day. The energy in the room was electric as our students looked ahead to their futures, met industry trailblazers, and spent the day discovering just how many paths are open to them.
An Inspiring Morning with Industry Experts
The morning kicked off with an outstanding lineup of external speakers who generously shared their time, expertise, and insider knowledge:
Protecting and Serving with Greater Manchester Police: Michael McGuiness and Gordon Milne from the GMP Positive Action Team blew our students away with the sheer variety of roles within the force. From frontline officers and detectives to specialists in forensics, technology, and community support, they showed our pupils what it really takes to keep our region safe.
Unlocking Brain Mysteries with Dr Joao Paulo Cavalcanti de Albuquerque: Bringing cutting-edge science straight from the University of Manchester, Dr Albuquerque gave students a fascinating look into the human brain. As a medical researcher, he shared how he uses pre-clinical models and advanced genetic tools to study brain function. It was a thrilling session for our aspiring scientists and medics!
Navigating the Future with the wonderful Dr Miri Firth: a parent and senior lecturer at the University of Manchester and a national expert in post-18 pathways, Dr Firth brought 15 years of wisdom to the table. She offered practical, reassuring advice on how students can recognize their unique strengths and how parents can best support them through these big transitions.
Designing Our World with Hugh Gibbs: Architect Hugh Gibbs from the award-winning design practice Hawkins Brown inspired our creative minds. Hugh spoke passionately about his journey through the profession and what it is like to shape the spaces where communities live, work, and learn right here in Greater Manchester.
Unlocking Unexpected Paths with the British Army: Corporal Ian Frain completely redefined what it means to work for the forces. While many associate the Army with frontline combat, Corporal Frain highlighted that it is actually one of the UK’s largest employers, offering world-class apprenticeships in everything from engineering and IT to healthcare and music!
Going Behind the Scenes of Elite Sport with James White: parent and Global sports executive James White provided an unforgettable look into high-stakes international sports management. Having served as the Country Manager for the historic Ryder Cup in Italy, James shared behind-the-scenes insights into the brand partnerships and complex logistics required to pull off a massive global tournament.
A Welcome Return for Michael O’Connor: We were absolutely delighted to welcome back esteemed alumnus Michael O’Connor, a Partner and Co-Chair of the Government Contracting Group at the international law firm Addleshaw Goddard. With over 35 years of legal experience—including leading massive transformational projects and previously heading up the firm’s Manchester office—Mike shared invaluable insights into global legal practice and what it takes to succeed in a top-tier international firm.
Defending the Digital Frontier with BAE Systems: Ben Gristwood from BAE Digital Intelligence gave students an eye-opening look into the fast-moving sector of national security and cyber defence. He highlighted how BAE works at the forefront of protecting critical infrastructure and vital data, detailing incredible career paths in cyber security, software engineering, data analysis, and intelligence management.
Hands-On Problem Solving in the Afternoon
After a morning of listening and learning, the afternoon saw our students step up to the plate with an array of interactive challenges and presentations across different year groups:
U3 Inventive Thinking: Our U3 students took centre stage to present their wonderful BRP Infographics. They researched and designed visual displays celebrating the best inventions in the world, showcasing fantastic creativity and presentation skills.
L4, U4, and L5 Corporate Challenge: These year groups teamed up with Young Enterprise to tackle a real-life marketing dilemma from tech giant Sage. Students had to think like business executives, working collaboratively to solve genuine industry problems.
L6 Bridging the Disciplines: Our Lower Sixth students worked alongside the London Interdisciplinary School. They tackled complex, real-world problems by combining the perspectives of both the humanities and the sciences, proving that the best solutions come from thinking outside the box.
Careers Day is all about sparking curiosity, exploding myths about certain industries, and proving to our students that their potential is limitless. A massive thank you to all of our incredible guests and to our staff and students for their phenomenal engagement throughout the day!