Over 200 Year 4 students from 24 Camden primary schools, including two special schools, recently gathered for an exciting careers day that opened their eyes to the world of work. Held at the British Library Knowledge Centre, the event began with an energetic warm-up session led by compere Nelufar Hedayat and an interactive dance activity from Laura at The Place. This set the stage for a day filled with interactive workshops and employer stalls designed to inspire young minds and broaden their career horizons, with SEND children forming a key cohort of attendees.
Morning workshops
The morning session was abuzz with activity as students rotated through hands-on workshops run by UCL Computing, Central Saint Martins (CSM), Archio architects, and Springer Nature. These workshops provided students with a glimpse into various professions and the skills they entail.
Afternoon activities
The excitement continued into the afternoon with additional workshops from UCL Medical Sciences and Camden Highline. Throughout the day, the foyer was alive with employer stalls from eighteen diverse organisations, including BAM, Morgan Sindall Construction, HS2, Lifefabs Institute, Mace Group, Camden Highline, Skelly & Couch, Wayve, University College London, Lambert Smith Hampton, RVC, Spark Architects, and Camden Film Quarter.
Student and teacher reactions
Student enthusiasm was infectious throughout the day. One student at the Morgan Sindall stand exclaimed, “My favourite bit was trying on the vest and hard hat (PPE); it was so cool,” while another was amazed by UCL’s technology: “The robot dog was the coolest thing – it can talk in Chinese!” The hands-on experiences clearly made an impact, with one student marveling at Lifefabs’ 3D printing work: “Wow! I didn’t know they used 3D printing to make body parts.”
Teachers were equally impressed by the event’s impact. “It’s been a pleasure to see them so engaged and inquisitive,” noted one teacher. Another praised the variety of employers: “The variety of employers is brilliant.” Representatives from Central Saint Martins were touched by the students’ enthusiasm: “It’s actually been really heartwarming – kids are so enthusiastic and not at all shy to get stuck in.”
A unique opportunity
The conference successfully demonstrated that career inspiration can start early, with students discovering that “art can be a career” and learning about real-world applications of their school subjects. As one teacher from Richard Cobden reflected: “What an amazing day! This feels like a really unique opportunity for Camden pupils.”
Camden Careers Day was a resounding success, highlighting the importance of early career inspiration and the diverse opportunities available to young students. The event not only broadened their horizons but also ignited a passion for learning and exploration that will undoubtedly shape their futures.
