Creating 'Brand You' - Employability Day at SCD

St Clement Danes Sixth Form students are spending a day with business and recruitment experts today, as they prepare themselves for entering the world of work.

In a new venture for the school, students are taking part in a range of workshops all aimed at helping them to sell themselves in a competitive jobs market. The day is entitled Creating ‘Brand You’.

Part of the day is being run by The Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD), an organisation which runs employability programmes for schools. Many of the guests are high profile businessmen and women, including Blas Maquivar, the President of Mars Chocolate UK and Global Retail. He is attending as part of IGD’s 'Feeding Britain’s Future' programme in which students are covering topics such as ‘The hidden job market: Networking and career pathways.’ Also participating this morning was local expert Charlie Ryan, The Recruitment Queen, who has been giving students guidance on a range of issues from CVs, to social media presence, to business etiquette. With her was Nicola Holland, an ex-student of the school, now working in recruitment.

Before the day ends, students will also spend some time considering how to live on the money they stand to earn; Herts Young Homeless education team will be providing a workshop on independent living skills and budgeting.

The day complements work shadowing the Year 12s will soon be undertaking, with placements ranging from working in Watford A & E department to assisting behind the scenes at the Barbican Theatre.

Careers Co-ordinator Mrs Payne says the day stands to provide students with a wealth of advice and guidance. “It will help those looking for jobs between university terms or those seeking to enter career pathways after A levels. We are delighted to have such high profile business people working with our students which can only encourage them to aim high and prepare well for the world beyond St Clement Danes.”

Blas Maquivar, President of Mars Chocolate UK & Global Retail, said “I am incredibly proud to be involved with this year’s IGD’s Feeding Britain’s Future Schools’ Programme, it is a great opportunity to bring the breadth of careers in the food and grocery industry to life. In my role at Mars and as a father, I’m passionate about inspiring young people as they take the first steps in their career and hopefully today we’ve helped to get the next generation of talent from St Clement Danes School excited about their future in the working world.”

Many thanks to all of those businessmen and women who have given up their time to work with our students today.