A record number of the region’s leading businesses turned out to support an annual Careers Expo which helps to inspire Ron Dearing UTC students as they consider their future options.
Support from more than 30 businesses ensured it was the school’s most successful event of its kind to date, showcasing careers in renewable energy, creative, IT, engineering, medical, recruitment, safety and more.
Hundreds of Year 10 and Year 12 students met business representatives to find out more about their industries and the employment, apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship options available. Royal Navy colleagues also attended to share their potential opportunities.
Many of the school’s former students returned for the event to help inspire the next generation and share their career journeys so far.
The event was also open to prospective Year 12 students who hope to secure the required grades to join Ron Dearing UTC’s outstanding sixth form in September.
Staff from leading East Yorkshire-based wind power specialist Boston Energy were among those who attended the Careers Expo.
Laura Botham, Head of People at Boston Energy, is also a Governor at the UTC and chairs the school’s Employability Skills Committee.
She said: “We want to showcase opportunities in our fast-growing wind industry to young talent. Ron Dearing UTC students are ambitious, they have so much energy and they are job ready.
“They have come through a school like no other where employability skills are understood. They speak our language before they even come for an interview.”
Staff from Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust also attended the event, representing the Trust’s radiotherapy and clinical engineers.
Craig Murdock, the Trust’s Business Manager for Clinical Engineering, said: “We have lots of experience and highly skilled colleagues in our sector, but we need to start looking at training younger people now to fill the gaps which will come in the future.
“I started my career as a junior engineer more than 20 years ago and progressed from there. It can definitely be a job for life.”
Former Ron Dearing UTC student Tomasso Eastwood is completing a degree apprenticeship to become a Radiotherapy Equipment Engineer at the Trust.
He said: “I loved my time at Ron Dearing UTC and it’s great to come back to help inspire the next generation.
“I’m completing my degree through the University of Bristol while working full time and getting paid, so I won’t have any debt at the end of it.”
Year 10 student Ethan Burletson, 14, said: “I spoke to staff from Quickline who told us about their industry, broadband and what they do. I’d like to become an engineer in the future and the expo was a great chance to meet people who work in engineering roles.”
Prospective Year 12 student Isla Thornton, 16, hopes to join Ron Dearing UTC in September, providing she achieves the required exam results next month.
Isla, who plans to study Double Engineering and Media, said: “I would like an apprenticeship when I leave sixth form and the expo gave me chance to see how many opportunities are available in the future. Fingers crossed I get the right grades to join Ron Dearing UTC.”
Glenn Jensen, Senior Assistant Principal – Employer Engagement at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “The Careers Expo was our biggest and best yet.
“It was fantastic to see so many of our alumni who are already working in industry sharing their stories as they continue move forward in their careers.
“Events like this broaden our students’ options and horizons in the engineering, creative, health and IT sectors and it’s brilliant to have the support of so many businesses, many of which are already our Employer Partners.”