More than 800 students from Newmarket Academy and its feeder primary schools came face to face with local employers last week at a Careers Fair designed to open young eyes to the wide range of jobs available right here in Newmarket.
Organised by the Newmarket Charitable Foundation (NCF) in partnership with Newmarket Academy, the event brought together employers, training providers and organisations from sectors including equine, science, horticulture, healthcare, hospitality, tourism, childcare, education, elder care, motoring, the fire service and the armed forces.
Inspiring the youngest minds
One of the stand-out features of the day was the inclusion of primary school pupils alongside secondary students. NCF believes that the earlier children are introduced to real people doing real jobs, the sooner they begin to imagine what their own futures could hold. The pupils’ reactions spoke for themselves. One said: “I didn’t know a scientist could do that.” Another, with her heart set on animal care, was delighted to find a local vet among the exhibitors: “I want to be a vet and a vet is here today to talk to me. It’s great.” The ‘describe your perfect career’ board was packed with a range of different careers the students wanted to try, from footballer, to owning their own business, to chief executive officer of a global company.
Showcasing Newmarket’s own industries
As the global home of horseracing, Newmarket offers a wealth of careers that many young people may not realise are within their reach. The racing and equine stands proved especially popular, with one student explaining: “I want to work in racing so I am getting some ideas from all the racing stalls.”
Linking learning to the world of work
For older students, the fair offered a valuable chance to explore the education, training and qualifications behind different careers and to see how classroom learning connects to future opportunities. Newmarket Academy reports that the event strengthened its careers programme and supported its delivery of the Gatsby Benchmarks, the national framework for good careers guidance, particularly through meaningful encounters with employers and employees.
Supporting education and young people
The Careers Fair forms part of NCF’s work under its Education and Young People pillar, which focuses on raising aspirations, developing essential skills and improving long-term employability for young people across the town.
Joshua Schunmann, Chief Executive Officer of the Newmarket Charitable Foundation, said: “It was wonderful to see the hall so full of curiosity and conversation. Newmarket is home to an incredible variety of careers, from racing and healthcare to hospitality and science, and we want every young person in the town to know those opportunities are open to them. Hearing primary pupils talk excitedly about becoming vets and scientists is exactly why we do this. A huge thank you to Newmarket Academy and to every business that gave up their time to inspire the next generation.”
Mrs Claire Preston, Headteacher at the Academy added: “At Newmarket Academy, we are passionate about ensuring that every young person can see a future full of possibilities. This Careers Fair provided a fantastic opportunity for our students, alongside pupils from our local primary schools, to meet employers, ask questions and gain a real insight into the exciting careers available both within Newmarket and beyond. The energy, curiosity and ambition on display throughout the day were inspiring. We are incredibly grateful to the Newmarket Charitable Foundation and all the organisations that gave their time to support our students and help raise aspirations for the future.”
Our thanks go to NHS Healthcare, Exact Sourcing, Discover Newmarket, National Horseracing Museum, LCG, Mr Fothergills Seeds, the Fire Service, Unisurge, Heathcourt Hotel, Turners of Soham, Rossdales, Bidwells, MENTA, The British Racing School, Colourbox Montessori, Eastern Education Group, West Suffolk College and Abbeygate College, Godolphin and Manchetts.