During May, Richmond upon Thames College (RuTC) students had various opportunities to meet with employers from different walks of life.

Simon Westgarth, CEO of the Richmond Furniture Scheme – a charity committed to recycling – met with Business Level 2 students and delved into the attitude necessary to work effectively in the Third Sector. There will also be an opportunity for some of the Business students to seek work experience with the Richmond Furniture Scheme in the coming academic year.

Alfredo Frassoni from ITA Airways met with Travel and Tourism students to talk about his career spanning over three decades with Alitalia. He conducted a masterclass with the Level 3 students to inform and enrich them on the dynamics of the sector which has been hugely affected by the pandemic.

Following this, Thorpe Park Resorts, a favourite destination for thrill seekers and young people, took advantage of the ‘Sightlines to Careers’ week to interact with various students by holding a recruitment drive for interested students. Recruitment Officers from Thorpe Park, Charlotte Pink and Phoebe McGrail explained the numerous benefits available to young recruits. This was an extremely popular event with 50 students enquiring about the employment opportunities on offer.

Lastly, a handful of aspiring journalists interacted with former BBC journalist Barnie Choudhury. The award-winning journalist, who now trains student journalists at the University of East Anglia, went through the highlights of his reporting career and the impact it made in lawmaking and social cohesion.

Work Experience Co-ordinator at RuTC, Tirthankar Bandyopadhyay, was thrilled at the success of this ‘Sightline to Careers’ week, saying, “Author and writer of one of best-selling self-help books ‘Think and Grow Rich,’ written by Napoleon Hill who said that everyone enjoys doing the kind of work for which he is best suited.

“In an age when the apprehension of the pandemic is still alive in public imagination and many employers are wary of taking students for physical work experience, encounters with employers or employer engagement are an important way for the learners to recalibrate their employability skills and reinvigorate themselves to be work-ready.”

The monthly ‘Sightline to Careers’ engagement sessions help students find out about various career opportunities. The events also provide interaction with professionals to help inform the students about the skills required as well as providing insight into different companies and sectors.

Learn more about Work Experience and Industry Placements at RuTC here

Check out the gallery below for some images taken from the various employer talks.