The annual Junior Careers Carousel offered Year 6 Pupils from Park Road and Hesketh House the opportunity to meet Bolton School Alumni, Parents and local businesspeople from a variety of industries, gaining an insight into different career paths and the skills needed for success. Pupils were given the chance to ask questions, learn about day-to-day working life and discover various routes into many professions.
David Critchley (Class of 1984) spoke about his career in engineering and manufacturing. After studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nottingham, he progressed through a variety of roles in design, project management, change management and business leadership, gaining a valuable insight into the various areas of businesses. Today he works within the defence sector, helping oversee the manufacture of advanced equipment used by armed forces around the world. David explained to students how modern manufacturing relies on technologies such as robotics, automation, programming and virtual reality, whilst emphasising the importance of teamwork and integrity.
Holly Craggs (Class of 1997) shared her unusual route into Educational Psychology: after studying English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford, followed by postgraduate study in Shakespeare Studies and Renaissance Literature, Holly spent several years working in education before retraining as an Educational Psychologist. She now works for a Local Authority Educational Psychology Service, supporting children and young people. During the carousel sessions, pupils learnt about the importance of empathy, resilience and analytical thinking, as well as the role data and observation play in understanding how best to support young people in an educational setting.
Following her orthodontics and restorative dentistry training, current parent Richa Sharma has spent nearly 20 years in private practice, with a passion for helping nervous patients feel at ease. Richa encouraged pupils to keep an open mind about their future careers, explaining that interests and ambitions often evolve over time and that there is no need to have all the answers at a young age. She also provided students with a breakdown of the differences between NHS and Private Practice work, helping them to understand each field for possible future career choices.
The carousel welcomed Bolton School parent Marilena Manfredi, Managing Director of local estate agency PLM. Marilena explained how her love of languages, including Italian, Spanish and French initially led her into helping people relocate and the desire to solve the property challenges inspired her to establish her own real estate business. Marilena spoke about the rewards of helping people find their dream home and encouraged pupils to continue learning, believe in themselves and approach life with kindness and ambition.
Representing local business RSM, Liz McLeish spoke to our Year 6 pupils about her experience as a chartered accountant following training with one of the world’s largest accountancy firms. Having spent several years teaching others to become accountants, Liz now helps businesses understand their finances, solve complex problems and plan for the future. Liz explained to the pupils that accountancy is not simply about Mathematics, but also about building relationships and earning the trust of your clients.
Throughout the event, pupils asked thoughtful questions about qualifications, salaries, working life and the challenges faced in different professions. Thank you to all five of our speakers for their time and highlighting the importance of communication, resilience, lifelong learning and strong relationships.
View a gallery of photos from the day here:
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