On 17 November, we hosted our inaugural Career Insight Event, which involved three different events, twenty speakers, and 350 students from Year 9 through to Year 13. The goal of the Career Insight Event was to broaden students’ understanding of career possibilities, spark ambition, and offer practical insights into future pathways. We are proud to report that the event was a great success, and would like to extend a huge thank you to our invited guests – who were so generous in sharing their career stories and words of advice – as well as to all of the Epsom staff and members of the prefect team who contributed to the smooth running of this event.
The day was structured to give students meaningful, personalised interactions with professionals. During the Career “Speed Dating” sessions, students had the opportunity to speak with five individuals of their choice. It was fantastic to see our students engaging in conversation with maturity and confidence. Many had taken the initiative to research their chosen speakers in advance, and asked thoughtful and relevant questions.
Later in the evening, we hosted two panel discussions where students could follow up with speakers they found especially relevant or intriguing. These sessions allowed for deeper exploration of industry-specific topics and gave students the chance to hear contrasting viewpoints within the same field. The questions posed during the panels highlighted our students’ curiosity and ambition.
Across the day, students described their experience as interesting, informative, useful, fun, exciting, rewarding and eye-opening. Many have already spoken about new goals, interests, and possibilities sparked by the interactions they had on the day, sharing that they had learned “how to match my strengths and interests to real career paths.” Others were particularly inspired by insights such as “Do something until it’s unreasonable to fail” and “People can shine in many different careers, so we shouldn’t limit ourselves to focusing on just one or two”.
A recurring theme in the discussions was the importance of passion, adaptability, and problem-solving in an ever-changing and uncertain world. Students were reminded that “a university degree doesn’t define what you will become for the rest of your life” and were encouraged to remain open-minded as they explore their options for future career pathways. Several students reflected on how these perspectives reshaped their understanding of fields such as business, technology, and design, with one noting, “I used to think business was just selling products, but I learned it’s also about solving problems, adapting to change, and creating value.”
Our first Career Insight Event has set a strong foundation for future events, thanks to the energy of our students and the invaluable contributions of our visiting speakers. Through engaging talks and meaningful conversations, students have gained clarity about how their strengths, interests, and values can translate into future careers. We look forward to developing the Career Insight Event into a signature Epsom experience that continues to empower and inspire our learners for years to come.
Ms Anna Macleod
Head of Higher Education