Members of the WCCSA Education Committee set up our stand at the London Careers Fair on 26th and 27th February 2024, to promote a career in Corporate Governance and/or as a Company Secretary. The event, which was organised by Livery Schools Link, took place in the splendid setting of the Guildhall.

The first day Senior Warden Gabrielle Williams Hamer and Past Master David Lock, supported by our Clerk, Keith and Assistant Clerk, Karen, met up with numerous groups of primary school children, who were a lively lot. They were eager to find out about what we do and the skills needed for us to do what we do, but even more eager to be clothed in a Livery Gown and to bang the gavel hammer as loud as they possibly could to call everyone to order.

We asked the children to write down what job they would like to do when they left school, inevitably we got quite a few who wanted to be footballers and actors/actresses, but also chefs, firefighters, businessmen and women, a cyber security expert, animators, lawyers, and the most unusual one was “I want to be a contortionist.”

On the second day Sheila Lumsden and Past Master David Lock, supported by Assistant Clerk Karen had a fascinating day with 600+ secondary age youngsters and their teachers. The day was different in format to the primary day as people came to the stand on their own or in small groups which allowed time for good conversation to encourage thinking about future options, particularly those who showed an interest in law/business.

We also asked what their career aspirations were which ranged from Creative Industries (artist, author, comic illustrator, drama, musician, photography) to Design/Architecture/Town Planning, engineering (variety), teaching, politics, sports (rugby and cricket mainly), medicine (always as a specific area not medicine in the generic), investment banking, sustainability and entrepreneur – a reassuring list of ambitions.

One point of connection on both days was whether the schools had, and whether the pupils were members of their school councils. Most did, and some were members, and we learnt about successful practices and frustrations. It was an excellent segue into our profession and conversations about how good practices can make the councils more effective.

We offered one primary school and one secondary school a prize of £250 each, to take their students on an outing (with a professional/career context) and in true Livery style, to make sure that they have a paid for lunch.

The primary school award was won by Cheam Park Farm Academy.

At the close of the second day Ann Bowen, former WCCSA calligrapher drew the winning school, Laurel Park School – a new school for Palmers Green and Southgate families. With its values of integrity, excellence, ambition, determination the prize will be well used. A quote from the school website – “Integrity is doing the right thing even when nobody’s watching”. C.S Lewis

We will be awarding the prizes shortly and also reached out to all the schools who took part in the draw, inviting them to join our School Governance webinar on Thursday 14th March 2024.